Children’s art theme for 14th Indo-Pak peace calendar released in Multan

Bathinda: Undeterred by the Pakistan govt's decision to not play against India in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka on Feb 15, the Pakistan chapter of Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a cross-border peace initiative, went ahead with the release of the 14th Indo-Pak peace calendar in Multan on Monday.The calendar is themed on "children's art becoming a bridge for cross-border harmony". The calendar was released at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, on Dec 31, 2025.
An event was organised by the Pakistan chapter of Aaghaz-e-Dosti at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in Multan for the release of the peace calendar, featuring paintings and artwork created by children from Pakistan and India. The initiative highlighted the shared aspirations of young minds for peace, friendship, and harmony across borders.As per a release issued by the India chapter of Aaghaz-e-Dosti, Nazir Ahmad, a human rights defender and member of Aaghaz-e-Dosti in Pakistan, emphasised that children's artwork carried an honest and powerful message of peace, free from political prejudice, and reflected the common hopes of people, particularly the young generation on both sides of the border.Liaqat Chohan, president of the National Party, Saraiki Region, said peace between Pakistan and India was urgent and most important at this time. Both countries share similar languages, culture, and social values, he said, while stressing that people of Pakistan and India deeply care for one another.Abid Chand, chairman of the Pakistan Minority Democratic Party, delivered a peace message for both countries and appreciated the artwork created by children. He praised the Aaghaz-e-Dosti for using art as a meaningful tool to promote peace and people-to-people understanding.Irshad Bano, a social worker and human rights defender, also appreciated the peace initiative by the Aaghaz-e-Dosti and highlighted the importance of engaging children and youth in peace-building efforts.Faisal Tangwani, coordinator, South Punjab, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, stressed the need for peaceful relations between Pakistan and India and emphasised the vital role of civil society in promoting dialogue, tolerance, and regional harmony.Nazir Ahmad reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to continuing cross-border peace efforts through creative and collaborative initiatives.The civil society members, social workers, political activists, and human rights defenders collectively expressed solidarity with the message of peace, coexistence, and friendship between Pakistan and India.Featuring 12 evocative paintings — 6 from each nation — the calendar serves as a visual testament to the shared aspirations of the next generation on the theme "Together We Rise" for a future defined by harmony rather than conflict.Over the years, the initiative has gained support from luminaries such as Asma Jahangir, Sheema Kermani, Salima Hashmi, I A Rehman, Shashi Tharoor, Kuldeep Nayar, Ela Gandhi, Prof M S Swaminathan, and many others, cementing its role as a vital bridge in South Asian civil society.MSID:: 127863288 413 |