The exhibition was a part of the peace initiative of Pakistan – India Forum for Peace and Democracy in 2003 at a time when tensions between the two countries had reached a new high with the real danger of war. The Forum decided to defuse the situation with a gathering of 300 activists and civil society members from India in Karachi for a peace convention.
The exhibition was held at the Beach Luxury Hotel, the venue of the Convention. Over 100 artists from both countries participated with works on fabric.
Traditionally flags have led armies into battle, the works at Flags of Peace subverted this by making it a symbol of peace to led an anti-war movement. The use of fabric opened it to diverse possibilities and artists explored a wide range of embellishments like stitching, collage, embroidery with intervention of metal, ceramics, plastic among others to carry their message of peace.