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RAWALPINDI, Jun 04 (APP): Prominent scholars and academia emphasized the importance of national resilience, social harmony, and countering negative propaganda during a seminar titled “Silence is Complicity: Role of Academia and Youth in Confronting Terror and Promoting National Unity” held at Fatima Jinnah Woman University (FJWU).
Chief Guest Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, delivered a keynote address highlighting Pakistan’s strategic response to regional threats. She highlighted character, ownership and countering negative narratives as the important elements for a resilient nation.
“When our eastern neighbor attempted aggression, Pakistan demonstrated firmness in its calculated response,” she said.
She further said that India created an environment of fear and hysteria among their population, but the Pakistani nation remained calm and confident, which, she said is the difference between a responsible nuclear state and one driven by aggression.
The Minister particularly underlined the need for national ownership.
“The enemy attacking us is not just across the border – he is within our own homes, spreading narratives to weaken Pakistan’s foundations”, said the minister. She also called out critics of the defence budget.
“While nations worldwide strengthen their defence, some among us question our own security needs, these are the fault lines we must address.”
The minister called the students to play their important role in combating the war of narratives.
Dr. Zia, Director General Islamic Research Institute, provided a psychological perspective, warning about the dangers of cognitive ‘echo chambers’.
“When we repeatedly hear certain narratives, they create mental frameworks that become hard to break,” he said.
Dr. Zia urged the students to critically examine whether their thinking contains biases against national institutions.
Prof. Dr. Shahid Afridi of NDU and President Jamia Muhammadi Sharif, Sahibzada Muhammad Qamar-ul-Haq, in their addresses presented practical measures for social cohesion.
Fatima Jinnah Women University Vice Chancellor Dr. Bushra Mirza proposed concrete educational reforms. She stressed for integration between madrassas and universities to create balance education system.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted that Islam is a religion of peace which teaches the harmony among religions, sects and other groups.
Dr. Bushra reiterated the commitment that FJWU would continue holding such important seminars to play important role at its part.
The seminar was attended by faculty members and a large number of students.