LAHORE - The grand centenary ceremony marking the completion of 100 years of the historic Australia Mosque, Lahore, was formally inaugurated by Ayesha Bakhsh, granddaughter of the mosque’s founder, Khawaja Muhammad Bakhsh, and Founder of the “Salaam Fest” in Perth, Australia. Addressing the gathering, Ayesha Bakhsh said that the Australia Mosque, established in 1926 by her grandfather, is far more than a century-old structure of bricks and mortar; it is a living testament to a century-long bond of faith, humanity, culture, love and enduring friendship between Pakistan and Australia. She said that religion and culture have the power to bring people closer, foster mutual respect and strengthen bonds of affection, adding that preserving this invaluable historical and spiritual heritage and transmitting its legacy to future generations is a shared responsibility. She appreciated the Government of Punjab and the Auqaf Department for their concerted efforts to preserve, conserve and rehabilitate historic mosques and shrines and to promote religious tourism under the Shrine Development Programme, particularly highlighting the establishment of six dedicated historical and cultural galleries at Sufi shrines as a significant initiative for acquainting younger generations and domestic and international visitors with the region’s rich spiritual, religious and cultural heritage. She also commended the department’s initiatives for mainstreaming religious seminaries through opportunities for technical education, scholarships for PhD and Philosophy studies, and honoraria for Imams. Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane, renowned artist and columnist Salima Hashmi, acclaimed actress and social activist Faryal Gohar, and founder of Akhuwat Dr. Amjad Saqib also addressed the ceremony, while the High Commissioner highlighted the people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Australia that predated the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1948, describing the century-long journey of the Australia Mosque as a remarkable reflection of these historic bonds. Secretary/Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, in his welcome address and vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to all national and international guests and said that the Government of Punjab and the Auqaf Department were pursuing a comprehensive agenda for the preservation of religious heritage, shrine development, promotion of religious tourism and mainstreaming of religious seminaries. He particularly appreciated the Khawaja Muhammad Bakhsh family, especially Ayesha Bakhsh, for providing continued care and patronage to 400 students of the madrassa, and highly commended Director Administration Auqaf Punjab Muhammad Shakir Sandhu and Manager Gulzar Ahmed for their dedicated efforts in ensuring the excellent and dignified arrangements of the centenary ceremony.
Director General Religious Affairs Hafiz Anees-ur-Rehman, Assistant Directors Israr Shah and Muhammad Ahmad, other Auqaf officers, distinguished national and international guests and prominent personalities also attended the ceremony.
LAHORE - The grand centenary ceremony marking the completion of 100 years of the historic Australia Mosque, Lahore, was formally inaugurated by Ayesha Bakhsh, granddaughter of the mosque’s founder, Khawaja Muhammad Bakhsh, and Founder of the “Salaam Fest” in Perth, Australia. Addressing the gathering, Ayesha Bakhsh said that the Australia Mosque, established in 1926 by her grandfather, is far more than a century-old structure of bricks and mortar; it is a living testament to a century-long bond of faith, humanity, culture, love and enduring friendship between Pakistan and Australia. She said that religion and culture have the power to bring people closer, foster mutual respect and strengthen bonds of affection, adding that preserving this invaluable historical and spiritual heritage and transmitting its legacy to future generations is a shared responsibility. She appreciated the Government of Punjab and the Auqaf Department for their concerted efforts to preserve, conserve and rehabilitate historic mosques and shrines and to promote religious tourism under the Shrine Development Programme, particularly highlighting the establishment of six dedicated historical and cultural galleries at Sufi shrines as a significant initiative for acquainting younger generations and domestic and international visitors with the region’s rich spiritual, religious and cultural heritage. She also commended the department’s initiatives for mainstreaming religious seminaries through opportunities for technical education, scholarships for PhD and Philosophy studies, and honoraria for Imams. Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane, renowned artist and columnist Salima Hashmi, acclaimed actress and social activist Faryal Gohar, and founder of Akhuwat Dr. Amjad Saqib also addressed the ceremony, while the High Commissioner highlighted the people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Australia that predated the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1948, describing the century-long journey of the Australia Mosque as a remarkable reflection of these historic bonds. Secretary/Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, in his welcome address and vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to all national and international guests and said that the Government of Punjab and the Auqaf Department were pursuing a comprehensive agenda for the preservation of religious heritage, shrine development, promotion of religious tourism and mainstreaming of religious seminaries. He particularly appreciated the Khawaja Muhammad Bakhsh family, especially Ayesha Bakhsh, for providing continued care and patronage to 400 students of the madrassa, and highly commended Director Administration Auqaf Punjab Muhammad Shakir Sandhu and Manager Gulzar Ahmed for their dedicated efforts in ensuring the excellent and dignified arrangements of the centenary ceremony.
Director General Religious Affairs Hafiz Anees-ur-Rehman, Assistant Directors Israr Shah and Muhammad Ahmad, other Auqaf officers, distinguished national and international guests and prominent personalities also attended the ceremony.
LAHORE - The grand centenary ceremony marking the completion of 100 years of the historic Australia Mosque, Lahore, was formally inaugurated by Ayesha Bakhsh, granddaughter of the mosque’s founder, Khawaja Muhammad Bakhsh, and Founder of the “Salaam Fest” in Perth, Australia. Addressing the gathering, Ayesha Bakhsh said that the Australia Mosque, established in 1926 by her grandfather, is far more than a century-old structure of bricks and mortar; it is a living testament to a century-long bond of faith, humanity, culture, love and enduring friendship between Pakistan and Australia. She said that religion and culture have the power to bring people closer, foster mutual respect and strengthen bonds of affection, adding that preserving this invaluable historical and spiritual heritage and transmitting its legacy to future generations is a shared responsibility. She appreciated the Government of Punjab and the Auqaf Department for their concerted efforts to preserve, conserve and rehabilitate historic mosques and shrines and to promote religious tourism under the Shrine Development Programme, particularly highlighting the establishment of six dedicated historical and cultural galleries at Sufi shrines as a significant initiative for acquainting younger generations and domestic and international visitors with the region’s rich spiritual, religious and cultural heritage. She also commended the department’s initiatives for mainstreaming religious seminaries through opportunities for technical education, scholarships for PhD and Philosophy studies, and honoraria for Imams. Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane, renowned artist and columnist Salima Hashmi, acclaimed actress and social activist Faryal Gohar, and founder of Akhuwat Dr. Amjad Saqib also addressed the ceremony, while the High Commissioner highlighted the people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Australia that predated the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1948, describing the century-long journey of the Australia Mosque as a remarkable reflection of these historic bonds. Secretary/Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, in his welcome address and vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to all national and international guests and said that the Government of Punjab and the Auqaf Department were pursuing a comprehensive agenda for the preservation of religious heritage, shrine development, promotion of religious tourism and mainstreaming of religious seminaries. He particularly appreciated the Khawaja Muhammad Bakhsh family, especially Ayesha Bakhsh, for providing continued care and patronage to 400 students of the madrassa, and highly commended Director Administration Auqaf Punjab Muhammad Shakir Sandhu and Manager Gulzar Ahmed for their dedicated efforts in ensuring the excellent and dignified arrangements of the centenary ceremony.
Director General Religious Affairs Hafiz Anees-ur-Rehman, Assistant Directors Israr Shah and Muhammad Ahmad, other Auqaf officers, distinguished national and international guests and prominent personalities also attended the ceremony.