ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's religious affairs minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri told the inaugural session of an international conference in Cairo on Saturday it was important to listen to alternative perspectives and resolve conflicts through negotiations to secure the future of the world and ensure well-being of societies.
Qadri began his official visit to Egypt on Friday to participate in the conference which intends to focus on the prospects of initiating inter- and intra-religious dialogues and cultural conversations.
According to an official statement released in Islamabad, the gathering is also attended by ministers and other senior officials from over 40 countries.
The participants of the conference will discuss the idea of countering intolerance through academic and intellectual dialogue and discourses.
The Pakistani minister is also expected to meet the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar and deliver Prime Minister Imran Khan's special message to him.
Qadri will consult the Egyptian scholar on the issue of Islamophobia and discuss practical steps to deal with the problem.
Al-Azhar University is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and renowned as one of the most prestigious centers of Islamic learning.
Last month, Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also visited Egypt on a two-day visit and met with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Qureshi described the Arab state as "an important member of the Muslim ummah" in a video message, adding that it was "often described as the gateway to Africa."
"It is our administration's policy to strengthen our relations with the African continent since we believe we have not fully explored its markets yet," he said. "It is extremely important for our economic diplomacy to engage with markets in Africa."
