Pur amn Pakistan: ‘Youngsters can play pivotal role in combating terrorism’

President to inaugurate peace conference on May 27

LAHORE: “Youngsters can play a pivotal role in combating terrorism,” Youth Affairs Minister Rana Mashhood said on Sunday.

He was speaking to journalists at a press talk convened to announce the agenda of a peace conference being organised by the government in association with Bargad. Mashhood said the conference would provide youngsters with an opportunity to discuss the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism. He said the government had also organised anti-terrorism essay and speech competitions among schoolchildren.

Provincial Assembly Member Waqas Mokal, who is also the chairman of the Provincial Assembly Youth Caucus, said the timing of the conference was perfect. He said the time was ripe to engage the young to prevent them from being influenced by extremist narratives.



Bargad executive director Sabiha Shaheen said the role of the media in anti-terrorism efforts would also be discussed at the conference. She said special attention would be given to the utility of social media on this account. Shaheen said it was crucial to analyse the misuse of cyberspace with regard to the proliferation of hate material. She said the response of the people to the cricket series underway exemplified their resilience and reflected their desire for peace.

President Mamnoon Hussain will inaugurate the conference that is slated to commence on May 27. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, MPAs and civil society representatives will also participate in the conference. A ceremony to honour those who lost their lives in the Peshawar carnage will also be organised under the auspices of the conference. The families of the deceased will be present on the occasion.

The event is being organised to analyse terrorism, its ramifications and the role of the youth in ensuring the effective implementation of the NAP.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2015.