The Women Institute of Learning and Leadership (WILL) in collaboration with the University of Management and Technology (UMT) and the Association of Management Development Institution in Pakistan (AMDIP) organized the 1st two days International Conference on Diversity and Social Inclusion: A Way Forward for Institutional Reforms here at UMT. Theme of conference was Diversity and Social Inclusion: A Way Forward for Institutional Reforms where renowned National and International PhD scholars flocked together.
Chairperson (Women Institute of Learning and Leadership) WILL Ms Maryam Nur Murad inaugurated the conference along with President UMT Ibrahim Hassan Murad, Former Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani Khar, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Dr. Salman Shah, member National Assembly Dr. Nafisa Shah, International Security Analyst and journalist Nasim Zehra, Dr. Naushaba Hassan, Rector UMT Professor Dr. Muhammad Aslam and Director General UMT Abid HK Sherwani.
More than 40 National and International PhD scholars, Intellectuals, Researchers and experts including Kalyan Singh Kalyan, Dr. Alexander J Malik, Arya Indiras, Lt Gen (r) ghulam Mustafa, Dr Arfa Syeda Zahra, Naeem Tahir and many other Guest speakers participated in the conference where sessions were conducted and 40 thought provoking Scientific Research Papers were presented on Diversity and Social Inclusion.
In her opening remarks Chairperson WILL Ms Maryam Nur Murad warmly welcomed all worthy guests and speakers and highlighted the multiple issues faced by society in the domain of diversity and social inclusion. She told that this conference will connect renowned practitioners, social institutions, professional experts and religious scholars to the civil society with their latest teachings and research to find the solutions faced by our society. She stated that we are having diverse cultures in our society, so we should bring them all at one platform and provide them advance quality education because education is the best tools which can play vital role in the development of society.
Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Dr. Salman Shah addressed to the conference and congratulated the Chairperson WILL Ms Maryam Murad on holding such effective conference. He talked about diversity as an entity leads to conflict and if it becomes inclusive, it can lead to positive changes. He added that we should include the minorities not exclude them because we should stand unite to overcome the issues and challenges faced by our society.
Former Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani Khar appreciated the efforts of UMT and WILL for organizing such fruitful conference. Mr. Rabbani said that world is full of diverse cultures and religions. We should gather them the umbrella of humanity and abide by universal human laws. We should provide them all equal rights and opportunity, he told. He also stated that women should also be empowered and provided quality education because women have essential value in our society as they are the keepers of our youth.
Dr. Nafisa Shah Member National Assembly addressed to the gathering and said that our youth is the best tool which can be helpful in resolving the issue of diversity. The minorities should be given equal rights in every society as they are also human being. Races system should be totally removed from everywhere. Facilities should not be distributed on the basis of color, gender, cast and religion. Law and social luxuries should be equal for everyone.
President UMT Ibrahim Hassan Murad shared his thoughts and said that the main purpose of the conference is to do focused research and find solutions for the challenges faced by all the civilizations across the globe on the diversity and inclusivity, discrimination on ethnicity and discernment faced by humans on socio-culture basis.
Naseem Zahra Senior Journalist and International Security Analyst focused on diversity in conflict management, where she put forth the fact that diversity emerges first as a general factor and then as a divisive factor, arising due to poor governance.
Abid HK Shirwani, DG UMT who extended his deepest gratitude to Mariam Nur Murad, Chairperson WILL for addressing women empowerment and the issues related to gender discrimination. He talked about the basic issues regarding empowerment and rights of the less privileged and disabled.
Rector UMT Dr. Muhammad Aslam also welcomed all worthy guests and congratulated Chairperson WILL Ms Maryam Nur Murad on shedding light on such important issue. He said all the experts gathered here can find better pollution of problems related to diversity.
President UMT and Chairperson WILL Ms Maryam Nur Murad along with Dr. Naushaba Hassan presented souvenir Souvenirs to worthy guests. A large numbers of students, faculty members and people from all walks of life also participated in this conference.