Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK Dr Maleeha Lodhi was confident the planned Festival of Muslim Cultures in London would help the East and West to understand each other which was necessary to promote understanding between the two civilisations.
Dr Maleeha, being one of the honorary members of the Board of Trustees of the Festival of Muslim Cultures, was speaking at a reception and presentation which was organised by Festival of Muslim Cultures Trustees and the Royal Geographical Society here late Thursday. Other members include Lord Nazir Ahmed, Sir Ghulam Noon, and Islamic Banking (magazine) Editor Mushtaq Parker.
"Only by coming together in such encounters can we hope to build harmony, respect, and an alliance between civilisations", she said while referring to the Festival to be held in January next year which is being organised by the Festival of Muslim Cultures Trustees and the Royal Geographical Society.
Dr Maleeha said the celebration of art and culture in the Muslim world will help overcome the blanks of ignorance about Islamic countries, adding such a festival would give young Muslims in Britain a cultural voice.
"As art is the language of hearts and minds, this will also help connect and engage wider communities with each other", she added.
Quoting from the Holy Quran, the envoy said: "We have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other."
Given the 7/7 situation, she stressed the need to portray that there was much more than to the Muslim world than "militancy and a minority that preaches and practices violence that is, in fact, abhorrent to Islam."
She said the 1.6 million British Muslims were part of Britan's rich culture where all cultures irrespective of their origin, have lived side by side benefiting from one another.
Dr Maleeha said she supported the objectives of this Festival which were to celebrate the rich cultural and artistic expressions of Muslims. It will help promote understanding, respect, and facilitate interconnectedness.