Peace, tolerance vital for social cohesion, say speakers at UoS seminar

SARGODHA, Aug 19 (APP): Peace, tolerance, mutual respect and dialogue are essential for sustainable development and social cohesion, speakers said at a seminar held at the University of Sargodha (UoS), stressing greater youth engagement in building an inclusive society on Wednesday.

The seminar on “Strengthening Social Cohesion Through Youth Engagement for the Promotion of Peace and Tolerance in Pakistan: An Islamic Perspective” was organised by the Department of Islamic Studies. Prof Dr Qibla Ayyaz, Member of the Shariah Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, said peace is a fundamental prerequisite for prosperity. Citing the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) for a peaceful city, he said Islamic history and teachings provide strong examples of peace, wisdom and non-violence.

He highlighted the lives of Prophets Hazrat Yusuf, Hazrat Musa and Hazrat Isa (AS) and said the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) offered a complete model of ethical conduct, tolerance and peaceful engagement.

He said the Prophet (PBUH) defeated opponents in Makkah through character and moral strength rather than force. Referring to countries like Qatar and Singapore, he said peace can lead to economic progress even in smaller states.

He urged youth, especially in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to move away from extremist thinking and adopt tolerance and restraint, while also supporting development initiatives such as CPEC. He stressed balancing moral and economic development and promoting dialogue forums to bridge generational gaps.

Dr Ghulam Hussain Babar, Professor of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, said youth should be seen as the country’s “greatest asset” rather than a problem.

He said society, parents and teachers must also reflect on their own role in shaping young minds. He called for reducing the gap between youth and other social groups.

He said the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) actively engaged young people and used constructive activities to strengthen social bonds. He proposed building cultural, economic and social “bridges” to better integrate youth. While economic opportunities are vital to address unemployment, he said social dialogue is equally important.

He added that youth must learn both to listen and express themselves, replacing violence with dignity and tolerance.

Prof Dr Ferozuddin Shah, Chairman Department of Islamic Studies, said youth must be integrated into society and guided towards a sense of purpose. Referring to the Quranic advice of Luqman (AS), he said arrogance in social behaviour must be avoided. He expressed concern over excessive use of digital devices weakening social interaction and said education should go beyond jobs to purpose-building. He warned against “careerism” and urged students to adopt Allama Iqbal’s vision for becoming responsible citizens.

Principal College of Agriculture Prof Dr Ijaz Rasool Norka said Pakistan’s youth have a key role in strengthening the country’s global standing. Quoting Allama Iqbal, he urged them to uphold truth, justice and courage.

The seminar ended with a question-and-answer session on peace, tolerance and youth engagement.