Sargodha: Two-day national workshop on “Youth for Interfaith Harmony” jointly organized by the University of Sargodha (SU) and Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) Islamabad, kick started here at Sargodha University on Tuesday.
The event aimed at promoting tolerance, peace and harmony among the youth belonging to different faiths in the country.
Speakers at the workshop were of the view that people and different societies can be brought closer by not interfering or criticizing others’ religion. Creating and promoting fraternity and harmony among various communities can help ensure peace and prosperity in society, they added.
A large number of students attended the workshop. The first day of the workshop was divided into three sessions other than inaugural session under various themes including “Why this workshop, A Good Citizen is the Best Pakistani, Courage Leads to Success, and Be alert on Social Media”. The sessions were moderated by Mr Ahmad Ali, Project Manager PIPS, Muhammad Aamir Rana, Director PIPS, Ms Anum Fatima, Research Associate PIPS and senior journalist Sabookh Syed.
The resource person Aamir Rana urged youth to adopt critical thinking to understand the vitality of social and cultural diversity to establish their Primary identities on their religious and sectarian terms. Unless acceptance and tolerance is not inculcated in the minds of individuals, sustainable peace will be a difficult goal to achieve, he added.
Ms Anum said “Amongst over 100 million women in Pakistan, contribution towards public life is still minimal. For this reason, women need to take charge of their destiny by overcoming social barriers that impede their progress”.
“Interfaith harmony is all about the notion of live and let live and that is the need of time,” Sabookh said. He also highlighted the importance of social media, and guided about effective social media techniques for social impact. A documentary was also shown to visualize the recent mob attack on a Hindu shrine in Karak.
