Think tank on violent extremism convenes

CM orders steps to make the body functional soon

PESHAWAR:

The 1st meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG) of the Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism was held on Wednesday with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair.

Provincial Minister for Higher Education Kamran Bangash, Special Assistant to CM on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, MPA Dr Ayesha Asad, administrative secretaries of higher education, home and law departments, chief coordination officer centre of excellence and other board members attended the meeting.

Briefing the meeting about the aims and objectives of the Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism, its would-be functions and organogram, budget estimates, powers and other important aspects of the centre, the forum was informed that the centre would work as a research based institute to cope with the issues emerging from terrorism, subversive activities, hatred, extremism, intolerance and radicalization etc.

“The vision behind establishing this centre was to create a society free of violent extremism and terrorism,” the official informed the participants and added that this would be a unique initiative of its nature not only in Pakistan but across the Asian continent.

The forum while agreeing to the need and importance and the proposed functions of the centre directed necessary steps to make it functional as soon as possible due to its importance for the province and country.

The chief minister has also directed the officials to immediately formulate finance and human resource committees under the board of centre of excellence so that financial budget, organogram and other important matters could be finalized without any delay.

He said that his government was taking every possible step to create a peaceful and violence-free society, adding that establishment of the centre of excellence was also a part of this well thought out strategy.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2022.