International Yoga Day celebrated in Pakistan too

The third International Yoga Day was celebrated in Pakistan too but on a muted scale. The organisers said a much bigger event will follow after Ramzan ends.

Pakistani yoga guru Shamshad Haider, who runs over 50 clubs across the country, said in a telephonic interview from Islamabad: “Due to Ramdan and people preparing for Eid, we could not organise a big event this year.”

“We have routine sessions in all our clubs today but after Eid we are preparing for a much larger event in Rawalpindi,” Haider said.. He said his team expected more than 1,000 people to take part.

The Indian High Commission also organised a yoga camp in Islamabad on Sunday, attended by India’s envoy Gautam Bambawale and other



diplomats.

Asked about the Pakistan government not celebrating the yoga day, Mr. Haider, founder of Yoga Pakistan and Way of Nature, says his clubs have people from all religions.

“It (government) never stopped us from doing yoga. It has granted us permission to hold yoga camps on its land and has also allowed us to promote yoga.”

Yogi Haider — as he is widely known — said he doesn’t want any help from the government or the Indian High Commission to hold events.

Born in Pakistani Punjab, Mr. Haider, unlike many Muslims, is emphatic that yoga has nothing to do with Hindu religion.

“Yoga helps to gain mental stability, peace, balanced living. It teaches us discipline which is vital in Islam and all religions.”