Speakers at the conclusion of a three-day workshop here on Wednesday maintained that the role of women is vital to developing a peaceful and a tolerant society, and that a community based on the principles of social inclusion in line with the spirit of Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan initiative of the government of Pakistan is the way forward towards establishing peace and prosperity in the country. The workshop titled ‘Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan Envoy of Peace: Vision 2020’ was organized by Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi in collaboration with government of Punjab. A large number of faculty members, academics and students attended the event. The three-day seminar is first of the series of programs to be held with the objective to highlight the role of women for establishing a peaceful and stable Pakistan. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan was the chief guest while Minister Women Development Punjab Ashifa Riaz Fatyana was the guest of honour. The speakers stressed the need for socio-economic independence of women to counter the prevalent challenges like hatred, extremism, violence and terrorism. “Women are natural leaders and they have the key to peace and development of a nation,” Ali Muhammad Khan said while addressing the seminar. “The time has come for young women to realize their potential and skills. Valuable role of women within family and the society to counter extremism and terrorism cannot be denied,” he added. Ashifa Riaz Fatyana talked about the importance of women as catalysts of change in the society. She said the women constitute half of population of the country and therefore have a significant role to play in the societal development. She also elaborated the articles 23 and 24 of constitution of Pakistan which pertain to elimination of all types of discrimination particularly the gender discrimination. MPA Farah Agha stressed that women can play an important role in making society a better place. “Women are no lesser than men, they make the family strong enough to work and build a society. We have to give women equal opportunities like men,” she said. FJWU Vice Chancellor Dr Saima Hamid said both women and men are equal and respectable in terms of human dignity. She said Islam is the religion that elevates the status of women and draws attention towards the pivotal role a woman can play in strengthening the society and the state. Lahore College for Women University VC Prof Dr Bushra Mirza on the occasion said the participation of women for the progress of any country is undeniable. She said education is the basic requirement to empower women economically, socially and politically. Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Habib Tajik expressed his views about gender gap and women’s involvement in society. He said women’s financial empowerment is crucial for closing the gender gap. He said gender parity at educational, economic, political and representative fronts makes prosperity and change inevitable. In an academic session, Rabia Armaghan delivered a lecture on ‘Marketing and Investment Skills’; Shumaila delivered a lecture on ‘Advocacy and Social Mobilization Skills’; Nousheen from Aurat Foundation talked about ‘Conflict Resolution: Arbitration, Mediation’; Ammar Jaffri talked about ‘Means & Methods of Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women’; and Dr Nazir Hussain from University of Lahore delivered a lecture on ‘Leadership Techniques & Social Mapping’. In the end, Dr Sarwet Rasul and Professor Dr Uzaira Rafique awarded university souvenirs to the worthy guests as a token of appreciation for gracing the occasion. Separately, a two-day seminar titled ‘Islamic Perspective of Socio-economic Development in Light of Paigham-e-Pakistan’ was organized at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzzafarabad, in collaboration with the governments of Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Paigham-e-Pakistan. A large number of intellectuals, academicians and experts participated in the event and shed light on subjects like development of an educational curriculum in the light of Paigham-e-Pakistan, safe charity, and Islamic perspective of economy. The participants extended unequivocal support to the Paigham-e-Pakistan narrative, which they said is the only way forward towards peace, stability, harmony and development in the country.