The Sufi Festival kicked off at Alhamra, attracting prominent personalities, including Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. The festival aimed to celebrate Punjab’s rich Sufi culture, emphasizing core values such as love, tolerance, and unity.
During his speech, Khawaja Imran Nazir highlighted the Punjab government’s healthcare achievements, including the ongoing construction of Asia’s largest cancer hospital, a project being overseen by Nawaz Sharif. The hospital will feature a dedicated 250-bed unit for terminally ill patients. Nazir also shared updates on the establishment of the Sargodha Cardiac Institute and spoke about the success of health initiatives, such as the doorstep healthcare program led by Maryam Nawaz. “Our healthcare teams have treated over 7 million patients at their doorsteps,” Nazir stated.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan also addressed the gathering, focusing on the role of Islam as a religion of peace. He acknowledged the pivotal contributions of Sufi saints like Data Ali Hujweri and the figures from Ajmer Sharif, remarking, “These are not just individuals but institutions that promote love and eliminate hunger.”
The festival featured a panel discussion on “Sufi Expression in Art and Aesthetics,” where scholars and artists, including Mufti Muhammad Ramzan Sialvi, Sahibzada Asim Maharvi, Khawaja Qutbuddin Faridi, Noor-ul-Hassan, and Baba Yahya Khan, engaged in discussions. They emphasized Punjab’s rich Sufi heritage, which fosters harmony, tolerance, and compassion. The participants noted that such events are crucial in combating extremism and promoting inclusivity.
One attendee remarked that the Sufi Festival is more than just a celebration of art and spirituality; it is a beacon of hope in countering radicalism and encouraging unity within the region.
