Body to evolve new narrative against extremism

LAHORE
THE Punjab government has formed a committee, comprising intellectuals, communication specialists, sociologists and educationists, to evolve a new narrative against extremism in the society.
Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Dr Nizamuddin has been appointed Chairman of the Special Committee while Ex-Vice-Chancellor UET Lahore Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Akram Khan, VC Punjab University Dr Mujahid Kamran, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Punjab University Dr Muhammad Zikriya Zakir, Secretary Higher Education Punjab Dr Ijaz Munir Chaudhry, President Pakistan Librarians Association Dr. Muhammad Ramazan, Additional Secretary (Acting Charge) Punjab Information & Culture Department Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani, representative of Provincial Schools Department and Law Department besides the representatives of Socio-Psychological Trauma Centre, King Edward Medical University (KEMU), have been included as members of the said committee.
According to Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, the committee has been formed on the direction of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. He directed the school and higher education authorities to promote “non-political student societies” in all the educational institutions and encourage the youth to participate in healthy activities.
A meeting held in this regard also discussed measures to change the mindset of the teachers of religious seminaries pertaining to different sects in a positive manner through arranging one week refresher courses for them in the Islamic Studies departments of universities in the province.
The minister informed the meeting that the Punjab government had decided to formulate a special training programme to transform the officers of the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) Punjab into communication specialists through their proper training in the context of current polarised social atmosphere as far as ideological basis of Pakistani society was concerned.
He further informed the meeting that Interprovincial Coordination Committee had decided to launch the youth internship programme 2015 for one year duration which would commence from March this year. Meanwhile, a proper summary regarding Punjab Sports and Youth Endowment Fund has been submitted to the Punjab chief minister for final approval, he added.