ISLAMABAD, Dec 23 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Wednesday said that Pakistan had achieved appreciable success in eliminating terrorists due to the efforts of law enforcement agencies including the armed services, para-military forces, police and intelligent agencies.
“We have to now fight the mindset that stokes terrorism, which has damaged the society’s fabric,” he said while addressing the concluding ceremony of a two-day workshop organised by the Pakistan Peace Collective here at the Information Service Academy.
Appreciating the presentations made by various groups on different aspects of terrorism, Pervaiz Rashid urged the participants to utilize their creative abilities to combat extremism which helped breed terrorists.
He said the operation Zarb-e-Azb had now been acknowledged by the international community as a major contribution by Pakistan in global fight against terrorism.
He mentioned that during the recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Belarus, the President of the host country had appreciated Pakistan’s successful operation against terrorists, which had created a sense of security among the people of Belarus.
Similar messages, he said, had received from other world capitals.
Senator Pervaiz Rashid urged the participants, who mostly belonged to the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, to pool their resources and join the fight against the scourge of extremism and hatred by exposing the nefarious designs of terrorists, who were misguiding the people and trying to create instability in the society.
The minister said that the whole world was looking towards Pakistan with optimism as the fight being fought by it against terror was aimed at securing the humanity.
Marked decrease, he said, had been noted in terror incidents in country and the credit must be given to the sacrifices rendered by its armed forces and security agencies.
“We have to continue fighting the menaces of extremism and terrorism both with ‘the pen and the gun’ and eliminate them. We have to promote tolerance and mutual respect in the society to defeat terrorism,” he said.
Pervaiz Rashid said that personnel from national security institutions had been laying their lives for making Pakistan a safe and secure country. The men of pen , he said, would have to come to the forefront and play their pivotal role in the fight against terrorism.
“We have to promote traits of love,tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the society to root out the hatred.”
The minister appreciated organizing of the training workshop and lauded the efforts and hard work of the participants who had prepared presentations on counter-terrorism strategies.
Fighting the extremist mindset was a noble cause and those who participated in that noble mission were heroes of the nation, he said.
The minister emphasized the need to promote arts, music and paintings as a tool to fight the extremist mindset.
Certificates were distributed among the participants of workshop.
