Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The participates of a dialogue tiled: Peace, Literature and Role of Universities on Monday stressed the need for the introduction of special courses on peace, tolerance and harmony, promotion of literary activities at university campuses.

The dialogue had been organised at the concluding day of the 8th National Book Festival at the Pak-China Friendship Centre Islamabad. The panelists included Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies Islamabad Executive Director Zafarullah Khan, senior writer from Balochistan Prof Dr Agha Muhammad Nasir, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof Dr Muhammad Yousaf Khushk, the University of Peshawar Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies director, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad researcher Dr Sajid Awan.

The proceedings of the dialogue were conducted by National Coordinator Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Muhammad Murtaza Noor.

Sharing the objective of the dialogue, Murtaza Noor said that the dialogue was organised to highlight the role of the universities for promotion of peace, tolerance, harmony and literature and eradication of extremism and violence and evolve consensus in this regard.

Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies Islamabad Executive Director Zafarullah Khan highlighted the role of universities to inculcate the values of active and responsible citizenship and critical thinking among university youth. He was of the view that through promotion of culture of dialogue and research over various societal issues, universities could play an important role for the betterment of society.

Prof Dr Agha Muhammad Nasir emphasised the need to respect the autonomy of universities and provision of adequate funding for encouraging research at the public sector universities over various socio-economic problems being confronted by the Pakistani society.

Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof Dr Muhammad Yousaf Khushk said that Pakistani universities had a lot of potential which needed to be further strengthened.

The University of Peshawar Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies director said that active participation and involvement of university students in extracurricular and literary activities needed to be supported. He was of the view that complete implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) could be greatly helpful in brining peace in the society.