Pakistan Christian Concern headed by Canon Yaqub Masih has completed its homework to launch a cultural exchange programme between UK and Pakistan in an effort to promote interfaith peace and harmony between the two countries, Masih told Pakistan Today in an exclusive interview.
“The whole idea behind the move is to increase awareness and to remove misconception on both sides through a cultural exchange programme,” he added. Masih said the PCC intended to initiate an exchange programme in which a selected group of Pakistani and UK citizens shall be made to visit the other country.
He said first a group of Pakistanis shall be taken to the UK in February next year and then a group of people from the UK shall be brought to Pakistan. Masih further explained that a group consisting of 12 people has been selected for the tour. “The group consists of 3 lawyers, 3 policemen, 3 imams and 3 priests,” he said, adding that these people would also meet their counterparts in the UK.
Masih, who was appointed first Lay Canon by Church of England for the Diocese of Wakefield last year, has now also been appointed on the Board of Trustees for the West Yorkshire Police Community Trust. Masih is the first and only Asian who has been given the title of canon. Canon is the highest honour award give to a layman by Church of England.
Canon Yaqub previously had been involved inter-country charity works. He had travelled to Pakistan in October with aid worth £17,500 collected from the Christians in Wakefield Diocese for the flood victims in Pakistan. He was able to go and give the money in person to the Christian and Muslim community. He also donated 550 chairs to flood-hit schools.
Yaqub believes that the people of both countries need to adopt a positive attitude for each other. He said the people of both countries were helpful and they could work together to achieve prosperity. He said he was very hopeful when it came to the youth of Pakistan since they had the power to change the country.
