Youths urged not to fall prey to alien cultures

Islamabad: First Lady Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday pushed youths, especially girls, for getting formal education of choice but said they should not fall prey to alien cultures and instead follow own traditions and customs.

She asked girl students to spend life in line with Islamic values for the gradual development of the society along the lines of strong conduct and ethics. Begum Mehmooda expressed these views in an interaction with schoolgirls here at the Aiwan-i-Sadr.

The event was part of the series of the First Lady’s meetings with young girls with an aim to focus on their moral grooming in additional to their formal education. Begum Mehmooda said adhering to the principles of morality could save people from many social evils as Islam greatly stressed good conduct and ethics.

She said good conduct not only confined to dealing with others while demonstrating good manners but also included other virtues including faith, belief in oneness of the Almighty Allah, offering prayers and fasting and righteous deeds.

The first lady also said morality included truth and honesty in public dealing, respect towards elders and affection for young ones, good behavior with neighbours, relatives and acquaintances, ensuring justice among the people, belief in life hereafter, recitation of the Holy Quran, abiding by the principles of Islam, fulfillment of the rights of the people and refraining from earnings by illegal means and wealth of widows and orphans.

"The entire life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) consisted of good deeds. He always respected elders and loved children. For that reason, the Prophet (PBUH) has been regarded with high esteem even by non-Muslims," she said.

Begum Mehmooda asked teachers to become a role model for students to follow. She later responded to various queries by the students and announced she would continue holding such meetings for the girls' ethical grooming.