PM asks writers to acquaint country's youth with national values

Imran Khan says onslaught of foreign culture is posing a serious threat to our history, culture and social values

ISLAMABAD: While talking to prominent writers and intellectuals of the country via video link, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday called for immediate steps to acquaint the new generation with the national values and culture.

"Our famous writers whose writings are equally popular in every section of the society can play a key role in this regard," he said and added that efforts to promote of national culture, civilisation and ‘Pakistaniyat’ will be welcomed at the government level.

He said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is paying special attention to reform Pakistan Television so that it can play its role in highlighting national identity the way it used to do in the past. He hoped that private channels will also contribute in this connection.

Emphasising on the importance of highlighting national values and ideology of Pakistan, the premier said that the modern media, easy access to all kinds of content on the internet, especially objectionable material, and the invasion of western norms and foreign culture, are posing serious challenges to our values, education and training of our younger generation.

"The onslaught of foreign culture which is repugnant to Islamic morals and national values, is posing a serious threat to our history, culture and social values," he said and added that at the same time knowledge about Islamic heroes, ancestors and national history was becoming limited among the new generations.

After 'Dirilis: Ertugrul', Imran Khan wants you to watch another Turkish drama

It may be mentioned that the premier had encouraged the country’s youth to watch famous Turkish TV shows including Dirilis: Ertugrul and Aşkin Yolculuğu (Yunus Emre) to get acquainted with ‘Islamic history and ethics’.

In a minute-and-a-half long clip shared on social in April, the PM commented, “We’ve always had content from Hollywood and Bollywood which was then being showcased here. A third end culture was being promoted. That’s why I want our youth to know the difference between our values and theirs.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan shares his views over PTV telecast of famous Turkish drama serial Diriliş: Ertuğrul; it will make our youth learn about Islamic history and ethics pic.twitter.com/pymAPbJFLr

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) April 24, 2020

He went on to add, “We have a culture with romance and history as well, however, it is also filled with Islamic values. Sadly, the content from Bollywood is full of vulgarity, which wasn’t the case three or four decades ago.”

The premiere continued, “Drug culture, sex crimes are on a high. I want a different culture to be aired so our youth can know that there is a way of life apart from questionable shows that have been airing.”

PM Imran, earlier, had also called it the ‘Turkish Game of Thrones’.