The News
Published Date: Nov 25, 2013
National peace summit of youth held
Sustainable
Development Policy Institute organised ‘National Peace Summit’ under
Pakistan Peace Initiative started two years ago which collected together
youth community leadership.
Search for Common Grounds,
Uks, PBC, PPF and Embassy of Denmark collaborated in the venture held
here at Aiwan-e-Quaid, Fatima Jinnah Park, here on Saturday.
PPP
leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said that development is for all hence youth
should not be treated as a sector. He said that policies cannot be made
exclusive for youth since they are part of the general population and
policies helping other segments will also help youth. Haji Adeel said
that his Awami National Party has youth wings in party which is working
on building capacity of youth in Pakistan. Ajmal Wazir from PML-Q
pointed out difference of education level in schools and Madarssas that
is leading to extremes in youth mindset. He said that there is a need to
take up this problem at the policy level.
Ahmad Jawad
from PTI emphasised on the provision of basic necessities and bringing
good governance that can help bridge gap and bring peace. On the other
hand, he said, there is a need to bring informed policy reforms.
Dr.
Shama Ishfaq from National Party, Balochistan, said that they have
introduced scholarship programme for youth which will help bring
positivity in their attitudes.
Mome Saleem, Research
Coordinator SDPI and also trainer of the youth and community leaders for
peace, said that we wanted to send message to masses as to how dialogue
can bring peaceful resolution to major problems. She also shared that
in past one year, real time dialogue has helped resolve grassroots
issues including transgender rights, land concession and bad governance.
She said that peace-building is a complete process and does not end in
one project. She said that the project might end but endeavour would
continue.
A participant said that the discussion led to
narrowing the gap between representatives of the youth hailing from
different regions of the country and helped in creating harmony.
The
speakers appreciated SDPI for taking initiative towards peace. A young
man from Balochistan said that when we leave centuries old culture and
traditions, the process of disaster starts. He said that Balochistan has
11,000 years-old civilisation. Another participant from KPK said that
the 2-day summit discussed all issues and formed a network to help in
restoring peace.
A group of anchorpersons was of the view
that media has a duty to report responsibly and not increase intolerance
and bigotry. An anchorperson said that there should be a session of
CEOs and policymakers of media channels to set limit to race for
ratings. A lady anchorperson said that if we speak truth, we will have
to keep Wali Babar in our mind.