ISLAMABAD, Sep 21 (APP):National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), Muhammad Tahir Rai Thursday said the authority was actively engaged in developing mechanisms to strategize solutions for prevailing issue of growing intolerance in the country.
He was addressing the four-day National Peace Festival organized by NACTA in commemoration of United Nations International Day of Peace (marked September 21) concluded here.
The objective of this event was to uphold and enhance social agreement against extremism and engage social actors in exchanging knowledge and proposing solutions to promote lasting peace in the country.
The National Peace Festival was concluded with the Minister for information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, as Chief Guest.
The National Coordinator NACTA said, “Global events like wars, epidemics and climate change have definitely affected billions of people in fields of food and energy. Billions are facing hunger. We are also affected, obviously.
But still Pakistanis are able to face it boldly by sharing food and happiness with each other. We have many blessings which other people don’t have.”
Pakistan with its cultural diversity, he said exemplified the strength of unity in the face of diversity.
“We are working with our partners in other ministries and institutions to give solutions and most importantly engage with youth”, he said.
The National Coordinator apprised the participants that NACTA was also working with local and international partners, think tanks and other stakeholders to reach out to educational institutions to promote Pakistani way of life which is based on indigenous Pakistani values of hospitality, sympathy and pursuit of happiness.
He informed that NACTA had developed a comprehensive National CVE Policy 2023. Pakistan’s national narrative against terrorism and extremism is a part of that policy.
Rai said the sport of cricket was our national craze as it binds people from all four corners of the country.
“We must promote these values to indirectly prevent extremism. We need to make those ordinary successful Pakistani people our heroes who excel in hard work and education. We need to tell the youth that our future lies in education, science and sports, ” he added.
He was hopeful that the candid discussions during the sessions of the last two days of the National Peace Festival would serve as means to make the world a peaceful planet characterized by tranquility and unity.
In a bid to engage the youth of the country in positive and healthy activities and steering them away from the extremism and terrorism, initial two days of this National Peace Festival was dedicated to a Cricket Gala amongst students of the conventional schools & Colleges and the Madrassah Students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
A total of eight teams participated in this soft ball cricket tournament, which included the teams of IMPCC, H-8/4, Head Start, Beacson house, IMCB F8/4, Jamia Darululoom, Jamia Muhammadia Ghosia, Jamia Islamabad and Jamia Ahl-e-Bait.
The final was played between two Madrasaah Teams, i.e. Jamia Muhammadia Ghosia and Jamia Darululoom, Islamabad.
The Jamia Muhammadia Ghousia won the tournament.
Wining and Runners-up were awarded cash and certificates were given to all the participants of the eight teams. Similarly, two more competitions were held during the National Peace Festival, i.e. Live Painting and Declamation Contest between the students of various schools, colleges and universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. More than 60 students participated; cash rewards to winners and certificates to all participants were also distributed.
The last two days of National Peace Festival had marathon sessions on ten different topics, which included, Vision for a Peaceful & Tolerant Pakistan, Gender Engagement & Prevention of Violent Extremism, Dynamics of Internal Security, Role of Print, Electronic and Social Media in Prevention of Violent Extremism, National Action Plan, Re-imagining Charities & Almsgiving in Pakistan, Terrorism: Narratives and Counter Narratives, Emerging Approaches to Conflict, Prevention and Resolution, and finally the Critical Peace Studies in Pakistan
Above topics of the sessions were extensively discussed by experts and practitioners, academia, religious scholars, media, policy makers and community leaders, which included Khalil George, Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr. Qibla Ayaz, Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology, Dr. Asghar Zaidi, Vice Chancellor Government College University, Hamid Mir, Zahid Hussain, Adil Shahzeb, Imtiaz Gul, Kamran Yousuf and Aizaz Syed, Senior Journalists and writers, Ms. Fouzia Waqar of NCSW, Ms. Mumtaz Mughal of Aurat Foundation, Ms. Helena Iqbal Saeed, Additional IGP/UN Police Commissioner, Dr. Shabana Fayyaz, Researcher & Academic, Muhammad Ali Babakhel, Additional IGP, KP, Dr. Muhammad Makki of NUST, Islamabad, Amir Rana, Independent Analyst PIPS, Ihsan Ghani, Ex-IGP/former National Coordinator NACTA etc.
NACTA in line with its mandate collaborated through this four-day National Peace Festival with its diversified stakeholders. Experts and practitioners, academia, religious scholars, media, policy makers and community leaders participated to work together in enhancing social consensus in the fight against extremism.
