Speakers at a series of seminars stressed the need to rise above personal differences and forge unity to jointly work for establishment of peace in the society and development of the motherland.
The first event of the series titled ‘Cultural Diversity and Peace’ was organised by the Lahore College for Women University, in collaboration with the Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (IUCPSS) under the Paigham-e-Pakistan initiative of the government of Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Jamat-e-Islami leader and former MNA Dr Samia Raheel Qazi said Pakistan is a country blessed with a beautiful cultural diversity. “People living across Pakistan have different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds but they all are united when it comes to patriotism and loyalty to the motherland,” she said, adding that everyone living in the country will have to play his role in development of the motherland while rising above personal likes and dislikes and interests.
Columnist Dr Munawwar Sabir said the state equally acknowledges and respects the people belonging to all ethnicities, colours, creeds and religions. “Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch and Pathan … all are beautiful colours of Pakistan,” he said, and urged the students of the universities and educational institutions to come forward and play their role in foiling the conspiracies being hatched by the enemy to divide the nation.
The second seminar of the series titled ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan: the National Narrative’ was held at the University of Education, Lahore.
Addressing the participants, Council of Islamic Ideology Member Dr Raghib Naeemi said implementation of Paigham-e-Pakistan initiative is the best tool to deal with growing extremism and intolerance in the society and to encourage the people belonging to different walks of life towards positive and constructive activities in order to realise the dream of building a peaceful society.
He said the document is the best depiction of Quran, Sunnah and social principles of Islamic Shariah and by applying these golden principles, the country can be turned into a citadel of peace and harmony.
Dr Nauman Jalandhri said the youth, especially students studying at different educational institutions, will have to play their part in promoting the national counter-terrorism narrative. He said the whole nation stands united for the defence of the motherland and will spare no sacrifices to make Pakistan a fortress of stability and peace.
The third event of the series titled ‘Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan: the National Narrative’ was also held at the University of Education, Lahore, on Thursday.
Addressing the participants, MPA Nabeera Andleeb Naeemi said the women will have to play an equal part in defending the ideological and geographical boundaries of the motherland.
She said a greater role for women in societal development will help promote long-term peace and stability as they can prove to be the best agents of change with huge potential to build peaceful and prosperous societies.
Jamat-e-Islami leader and former MNA Dr Samia Raheel Qazi said it is the time for the women to come out of the shadows at the podium of peace as they are the influencers and change-makers in the society as well as an integral part of a sustainable nation-building exercise.
Other speakers said the narratives of extremism, hate and terrorism can’t be defeated nor can peace and stability be promoted without adhering to an inclusive approach, for which the Paigham-e-Pakistan and Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan initiatives of the government of Pakistan can prove to be a leading light and the way forward.
A large number of faculty members, civil society activists, educationists, intellectuals, lawyers and students attended the events.
