ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain highlighted his government's efforts to create greater religious harmony among the people of the country during a meeting with the ambassador of Vatican City in the federal capital on Friday.

According to Radio Pakistan, Hussain mentioned the presence of the international Sikh community in Pakistan to commemorate the 552nd birth anniversary of the founder of their religion as part of his government's policy.

"The government is working for religious harmony and peaceful coexistence [among the followers of different faiths]," the country's state-run broadcaster quoted him as saying.

Earlier this week, the United States designated Pakistan as a "country of particular concern" in one of its domestic legislations on religious freedom which was categorically rejected by the administration in Islamabad.

Pakistan's foreign office noted the South Asian nation was "multireligious and pluralistic with a rich tradition of interfaith harmony."

It added that Pakistan and the United States had been "constructively engaging on the subject at the bilateral level, a fact regrettably overlooked by the US."

Hussain maintained that Pakistan and Vatican City should take steps to understand each other's culture and religious sensitivities.

The visiting dignitary said that Vatican City desired cooperation with Pakistani local churches.