President urges Muslim scholars to foster positive impression about Islam

Kicks off annual Spring Plantation Campaign at Aiwan-e-Sadr, envoys designate of Morocco and Kyrgyzstan present credentials

Islamabad

President Mamnoon Hussain Tuesday said that extremist mindset and terrorism had left painful imprints on humanity and called upon the Muslim scholars to foster positive impression about Islam as a religion of peace.

Addressing at International Islamic University's (IIU) women campus, President said that Islam ensures welfare of humanity and those misinterpreting its glorious teachings and fanning hatred, were a disgrace to humanity. He stressed the need for redefining the intellectual basis of Islamic Ummah in line with the current geo-political situation. He said it was the responsibility of the Ummah to refrain from sectarianism and protect the peace of world. He also emphasised on devising the educational curriculum to effectively cater to the needs of changing world. He mentioned that media was unnecessarily promoting the practice of ostentatious display of wealth and luxury in society.

He urged upon the Muslim scholars to guide the media representatives in promoting correct perspective. He expressed satisfaction that Islamic International University was the first of its kind in Islamic world which had the objective of preparing intellectuals who could not only safeguard the intellectual basis of Islam, but lead the Islamic world. He said the role of teachers and students was significant in highlighting the true perspective of Islam. He said Muslim Ummah and Pakistan were facing difficult times at present and the negative projection of events by media was creating problems. He said the situation was resulting into economic imbalance in the society. He asked the girl students to achieve as much higher education, however urged upon them to never compromise on their self-respect and their identity as a Pakistani woman.

Later, President said that forests are precious asset of Pakistan and it is imperative to ensure their protection and increase the forest cover in the country in accordance with the international benchmarks. He underlined that forests play a critical role in reversing the adverse effects of climate change adding that forests are also important in national economic stability and minimising environmental degradation. 

Addressing a ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr to kick off annual Spring Plantation Campaign, he said that the importance of tree plantation can be gauged from the fact that our religion admonishes damaging the trees and forests even during the wars. He said that the federal and provincial governments were making efforts to not only control felling of trees but also increase its plantation but noted that poverty, increasing population and rising prices of timber are some of the obstacles to this end and called for adopting unconventional measures to increase tree plantation. He said that Pakistan also observes International Day of Forests which is reflective of our resolve to protect forests. He stressed on devising effective strategy to protect forests and further increase forest cover in the country like planting saplings along railway lines, canals and roads.

Highlighting the significance of tree plantation, he noted that forests are also the biggest source to prevent floods and protect the fertile land from water logging and salinity. He called for using modern plantation methods and promoting plantation of local trees to increase forest cover. He said that the government would continue to extend all possible assistance to the provinces in this regard to attain target of planting saplings. He said that such campaigns create awareness among the people about the importance of trees and forests. He also planted a sapling to kick off tree plantation campaign.

Separately, First Lady Begum Mahmooda Mamnoon Hussain also planted a sapling as part of the plantation campaign. Mayor Islamabad, high officials of the Aiwan-e-Sadr and CDA were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Envoys designate of Morocco and Kyrgyzstan presented their credentials to President during credentials ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Later, the Ambassadors separately called on the President. Speaking on the occasion, President said that Pakistan is desirous of further promoting friendly and brotherly relations with all countries particularly with its neighbours for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. He said that Pakistan’s economy is improving and the country offers great investment and business opportunities and urged the foreign investors to avail them by investing in different areas. He said that Pakistan is committed to eliminate terrorism and extremism and emphasized that action against terrorists will continue till elimination of the last terrorist.

President felicitated the newly appointed Ambassadors to Pakistan and hoped that they would work for further cementing the existing ties of their respective countries with Pakistan. He also wished the newly appointed envoys a comfortable and pleasant stay in Pakistan.

The envoys who presented their credentials included Mohamad Karmoune Ambassador-designate of Morocco to Pakistan and Erik Beishembiev Ambassador-designate of the Kyrgyz Republic to Pakistan.