The 5th International Shah Hamadan Conference will be held from September 25 to 27 at Khaplu (Skardu). In this connection, a-meeting of management committee of the conference was held with the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (Kana) Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat here on Monday.
The management committee briefed the Minister about arrangements of the conference. He was informed that first International Shah Hamadan Conference was held at Muzaffarabad in 1987, second in Islamabad, third in Tajikistan, fourth in Lahore and this was the fifth international conference being held in Skardu.
It is pertinent to mention that Hazrat Amir Kabir Syed Ali Hamdani, known as Shah Hamadan, came from Central Asia to Kashmir valley some 750 years ago to spread the teachings of Islam.
Around 1,000 personalities including ambassadors of 16 countries will participate in the conference.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and Minister for Religious Affairs Ijaz ul Haq will receive the delegates at the Islamabad Airport.
The Minister assured the management committee that all arrangements would be made by the Northern Areas administration and the conference would be held in a befitting manner.
Faisal Saleh Hayat on the occasion said such kinds of conferences would show soft image of Pakistan. He said Pakistan was the land of 'Sufis' who spread the message of love and harmony in this region and created a large number of followers.
The management committee which called on the Minister include: Dr Ghazanfar Mehdi, Joint Secretary Pakistan Muslim League - NAs Fauzia Salim Abbas, Professor Dr Riaz Ahmed Director General National Institute of History and Cultural Heritage Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Major Abdul Waheed (Retd) and Saghir Hamdani.