About Me

Personal Journey

I am Shahzad Lawrence, and I feel extremely fortunate to have been born into a family that provided me with a well-rounded education and training. My mother was involved in the educational sector while my father was a tenacious worker who had great faith in his capabilities. The influence of my parents in my upbringing is something I will always cherish.

Cultural Background

I am living in a diverse and inclusive society that offers a great opportunity for fostering inter-religious unity, promoting brotherhood, and engaging in social work.

Reflections from Experiences

I experienced a period of my life where I had to work in a factory to support my family and discontinued my studies for nine years. This was a transformative period of my life, in which I came to gain an understanding of the everyday lives of ordinary people, as well as their social, cultural, and religious behaviors towards other communities. This knowledge was something that I could not have gained in the classroom.

Reasons why I chose to promote dialogue

I have experienced discrimination based on religion during working hours on multiple occasions, but I have been blessed to have the support of many of my Muslim friends.

These experiences have motivated me to be an advocate for inter-faith dialogue and religious harmony in society.

I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to pursue education, which has allowed me to engage in Christian-Muslim dialogue with like-minded colleagues and religious leaders from multiple faiths.

My Educational Journey

I hold a Master of Science (MS) in English Linguistics from Lahore Leads University (2014); a Master of Arts (English) from Islamia University Bahawalpur (2006); a Master of Computer Sciences (MCS) from Sarhard University (2004); and a Master of Arts (Punjabi) from the University of Punjab, Lahore (2004).

In addition, I have had the opportunity to hone my skills and abilities through my work at Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Lahore; St. Joseph’s High School; and Christian Technical Training Center, Gujranwala. I have also completed several training courses offered by these institutions.

Present Scenario

I have held various positions in numerous organizations, seeking opportunities to learn and contribute. Currently, I serve as Head of the English Department at Vital Group of Colleges in Gujranwala, in which capacity I am responsible for teaching students as well as overseeing the administration and registration of students.

Social Services

As a member of the District Peace Committee in Gujranwala, I have been actively working to promote a peaceful environment through dialogue. I am proud to report that our efforts have resulted in the successful resolution of religious tensions in the area. Additionally, I have been utilizing my teaching and social work experience to write articles on the subject for newspapers in the Urdu language.