Call for promoting tolerance
FILE
There is a need to promote the ideals of tolerance, forgiveness and mutual harmony to create and sustain an Islamic welfare society in its true sense, said Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day National Seerat Writers Conference held at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Wednesday.
Appreciating the role of AIOU, the minister said that it has set a new precedence for other higher educational institutions in the country by organising this conference.
He said that the government will continue to support AIOU in its goals of providing skill-based human resources for developing Pakistani industry and meeting the unique demands of the market economy. Islamic scholars and academia are requested to construct new discourses on the Seerat of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Speaking on the occasion, AIOU VC said that the three Centers of Excellence are aimed at inculcating golden Islamic values in the society to promote a culture of unity and peace among different segments of the Pakistani nation without the discrimination of colour, caste and creed.
Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman highlighted aims and objectives of the conference and remarked that the life history of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a practical demonstration of the teachings of the Holy Quran.
"We need to seek guidance from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) while facing the challenges of modern life," he added.
Muhammad Rafiq Tahir, Senior Advisor, Center of Excellence, Head of the Project Management Unit highlighted the philosophy of establishing three chairs and explained their objectives and goals in greater details. He said that this conference is the first and foremost important event organised by the Center of Excellence and renowned scholars and Seerat writers from all over Pakistan are invited who have written books on the life of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) and highlighted various aspects of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW)'s life.
Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz was the keynote speaker of the inaugural session. His address focused on the contemporary issues being faced by the Pakistani nation on social, cultural and economic fronts and highlighted that the solution of these issues is enshrined in the life, teachings and practices of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW).
The inaugural ceremony was concluded with poetic session based on Seerat which was presided over by the famous poet, Iftikhar Hussain Arif.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2022.