Daily Times

A two-day training workshop on countering violent extremism was held at the Islamic Research Institute (IRI) of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) for faculty members of different public sector universities and representatives of religious seminaries.

The aim of the workshop was to sensitise the target audience on countering violent extremism by highlighting various aspects of extremism, its stages and counter strategies. It also provided an opportunity for training of faculty members of different universities and representatives of madaris.

Faculty members from International Islamic University Islamabad, Karakuram International University, Shaikh Zaid Institute, Peshawar University, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, National Defense University, University of Gujrat, Centre for Sustainability, Research & Practice, University of Lahore, University of Faisalabad and University of Punjab participated in the event, besides representatives of Jamia Binoria, Jamia Ashrafia, Khair ul Madaris and others religious seminaries.

The programme also covered the social and traditional implications of changing and emerging roles of the faculty for peace building and countering extremism by discussing contemporary challenges and their solutions.

Multiple workshops and programmes will be conducted in different universities and educational institutions across Pakistan in the coming days to train faculty members in this regard and promote Paigham-e-Pakistan initiative of the government of Pakistan.

A day earlier, the IRI of the IIUI decided to establish Paigham-e-Pakistan Center for Peace, Reconciliation & Reconstruction Studies to conduct research studies on peace, reconciliation and reconstruction.

The government earlier this year launched the Paigham-e-Pakistan project in order to address the challenges posed by extremism and sectarianism through a national narrative which also portrayed a soft and positive image of Pakistan and highlighted Islam as a religion of peace, brotherhood, tolerance and harmony. The initiative was also endorsed by Imam-e-Kaaba and the Grand Mufti of Egypt.

Published in Daily Times, August 1^st 2018.