LAHORE, Oct 06 (APP):Pakistan can play the role of a bridge for peace and stability in the region, while dialogue, responsible communication and cooperation are essential for achieving sustainable peace, speakers said at a panel discussion held at the Punjab University on Tuesday. The panel discussion, titled “Pakistan as a Bridge for Peace and Stability: The Way Forward,” was organised jointly by the Press Information Department (PID), Lahore, and the …
Pakistan can serve as bridge for regional peace: Speakers
LAHORE, Oct 06 (APP):Pakistan can play the role of a bridge for peace and stability in the region, while dialogue, responsible communication and cooperation are essential for achieving sustainable peace, speakers said at a panel discussion held at the Punjab University on Tuesday.
The panel discussion, titled “Pakistan as a Bridge for Peace and Stability: The Way Forward,” was organised jointly by the Press Information Department (PID), Lahore, and the Department of Digital Media, Punjab University.
The event was attended by senior journalists Mujeebur Rehman Shami, Salman Ghani and Irshad Arif, columnist Muhammad Mehdi, University of Lahore Dean Dr Fariha Kazmi, PID Director General Shafqat Abbas, Punjab University Department of Digital Media Chairperson Dr Sawaira Shami, Dr Shafiq Ahmed, faculty members, students, journalists and media professionals.
The participants discussed Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability, the importance of cooperation and digital media, and possible strategies for the future.
Addressing the session, senior journalist Mujeebur Rehman Shami said Pakistan’s geographical location gave it unique strategic importance, making it an important link between South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and China.
He said this geographical position provided Pakistan with an opportunity to serve not only as a centre for trade and economic connectivity but also as a bridge for dialogue, cooperation and peace among different regions and nations.
He said the world was facing wars, conflicts, extremism, economic inequality and mistrust, making dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect more important than ever.
Mujeebur Rehman Shami said Pakistan had consistently advocated resolving regional issues through negotiations, diplomacy and mutual cooperation. Peace, he added, was not merely the absence of war but an environment in which people had equal opportunities for education, healthcare, employment, justice and development.
He stressed that economic development and peace were closely interconnected and called for greater efforts to involve young people in the process. He said media organisations and educational institutions could play an important role in promoting tolerance, constructive dialogue and social harmony.
Columnist Salman Ghani said Pakistan had always preferred negotiations and diplomatic channels for promoting peace and reducing tensions in the region.
He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan had pursued diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and stability and had played a role on different occasions in reducing tensions and facilitating dialogue.
Referring to various diplomatic initiatives, including the Makkah Agreement, Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate dialogue amid tensions between the United States and Iran, and Pakistan’s wider diplomatic efforts for peace, Ghani said these reflected the country’s policy of seeking solutions through dialogue.
He said the media had a crucial role in shaping public opinion and presenting the national narrative. Responsible journalism and constructive communication, he added, could help project Pakistan’s vision of peace, development and regional cooperation.
Salman Ghani said digital media had enormous influence because news, photographs and videos could reach audiences across the world within seconds. However, he stressed that this influence came with responsibility.
“Instead of misinformation, hate speech and provocative narratives, we must promote research, truth, tolerance and responsible journalism,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of universities in promoting peace, saying educational institutions provided platforms for dialogue among people with diverse ideas, cultures and perspectives. Research and academic debate could help develop practical solutions to complex national and global challenges, he added.
Senior analyst Irshad Arif said national consensus and responsible political conduct were essential for peace and stability.
He said Pakistan needed a balanced and effective strategy on the foreign policy front alongside internal stability. A country’s international role, he added, was closely linked to its domestic strength.
He called upon national institutions, political forces, media organisations, intellectuals and young people to contribute to building a better future for the country.
Columnist Muhammad Mehdi said Pakistan had demonstrated its strength in the defence sector and should now focus on achieving economic self-reliance. He said economic interests and regional cooperation should be given greater importance in foreign policy.
“The way forward is clear: peace, dialogue, education, economic cooperation, regional connectivity and tolerance,” he said.
He said if these principles were incorporated into national policy, diplomacy, education and social attitudes, Pakistan could become a strong centre of peace, stability and development for the entire region.
University of Lahore Dean Dr Fariha Kazmi said Pakistan could serve as a bridge for peace and stressed that economic development required political stability.
She said education and the younger generation had a fundamental role in promoting peace. Universities, she added, were not merely degree-awarding institutions but important centres for promoting tolerance, dialogue, research and positive thinking.
She said providing young people with opportunities in modern education, research and technology could enable them to project a positive image of Pakistan internationally. Women, she added, could also play an effective role in promoting peace, education and social development.
Dr Sawaira Shami, Chairperson of the Department of Digital Media at Punjab University, said digital media had expanded the scope of communication and enabled Pakistan’s viewpoint to be presented before the world instantly.
She stressed the need for responsible use of digital platforms to promote peace, tolerance and international harmony. She urged students to prioritise research, verification and responsibility before sharing information on social media.
She said media literacy and critical thinking were essential to counter misinformation and fake news.
In his welcome address, PID Director General Shafqat Abbas said the department was playing an important role in projecting Pakistan’s positive national narrative at the international level.
He described the country’s youth as its most valuable asset and future hope, stressing the need to provide them with opportunities in modern education, technology, research and positive thinking.
He said the role of media had become increasingly important in the digital age and that timely, authentic and responsible information was essential to counter misinformation, fake news and misleading propaganda.
The PID, he added, would continue to play its role in communicating government policies and Pakistan’s viewpoint effectively to the public and the international community while promoting responsible communication.
A documentary highlighting the government’s efforts for regional peace was also screened during the event, while the speakers responded to questions from students.
