ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi called upon universities to play an active role in preventing intolerance, extremism and violence among students and guide them towards positive mindset.

Universities, he said should arrange regular capacity-building training sessions for their management and faculty members to inculcate in students ability to resolve conflicts and extremism.

Addressing National Vice Chancellors’ Peace Conference, President said banning students’ unions in universities was not solution and stressed that there was need to change their mindset through proper teaching methodologies.

He said step would ensure reformation of students to help them contribute towards country’s better future, sustainable peace and prosperity. President Alvi stressed need for promoting ethics, morality, empathy, forgiveness and tolerance among students. He said students must not be indulged in activities which created stress among them.

To overcome ongoing crisis, he said, priorities should be defined in streamlining country’s economy, reducing inflation, poverty and rule of law. President hoped that challenging times would pass soon and country would witness exponential growth within five to seven years. Country will stand on strong footings again, he said.

Two-day conference was jointly organised by Higher Education Commission Pakistan, National Counter-Terrorism Authority and Shaoor Foundation for Education and Awareness.

Conference themed ‘Academic Discourse on Countering Extremism-Way Forward’ is significant milestone in implementation of Peace, Advocacy and Community Engagement through Transformation for Tolerance project, which is built on foundation of collaboration and cooperation between SFEA, HEC Pakistan, NACTA and other policy-level stakeholders.

Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said that conflict permeated various sectors of society including families and deserved collaborative and coordinated response. Apart from teaching, he said, as beacon of knowledge and enlightenment, universities had responsibility to foster responsible citizenship and produce good human beings.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 09 2023

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