ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has said that an intra-institutional dialogue is need of the hour to bring the country out of quagmire of uncertainty and put it on the track towards socio-economic prosperity. Addressing a conference held at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services to commemorate the celebrations of 70 years of parliament on Friday, the Senate chairman said that confrontation among institutions had slowed down the development process and dialogue was the only way forward to alleviate the intra-institutional reservations. Unfortunately, the concept of welfare state, given by father of the nation Quaid-i-Azam, was overwhelmed by security state resulting in changing the priorities. Rabbani cautioned that country was no more in a position to withstand politics of confrontation. “The constitution had determined limits for all institutions and there was a dire need to work within the parameters defined in the constitution to make the country prosperous.” Pakistan, he said, was a multi-lingual and multi-ethnic country. “However, a centrist mindset had always tried to hoodwink the masses and strangulate the history. The ruling elite wanted a system in which citizenry was unaware of its history, so that no one could question the state.” Rabbani said that history had been distorted and there was no mention in curriculum books about the struggle and hardships faced by the people of Pakistan for upholding democracy and democratic system in the country. He said that internal and external situation was precarious and the regional situation was highly sensitive. He urged the youth to realise their responsibilities and play an active role in national development. Published in Daily Times, August 12th 2017.