‘Dialogue only way to resolve South Asia issues’

LAHORE: Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Prof Dr Nizamuddin has called upon the universities to organise regional conferences in order to promote mutual relations and establish peace in South Asia saying dialogue, discussion and discourse are the only way to resolve issues.

He said this while addressing the concluding session of two-day international conference on “Changing regional political dynamics in South Asia”. Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zakria Zakar, PHEC Director General Dr Shahid Soroya, Director Centre for South Asian Studies Dr Umbreen Javed, Dean Faculty of Arts Prof Dr Iqbal Chawla, senior political analysts and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Dr Nizamuddin said China’s factor had gained importance in South Asian politics because of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said we could not live in isolation and must resolve mutual issues through dialogue; otherwise, it would be dangerous. He said Russia was also becoming our partner and we must analyse what were the reasons behind change in the US policies.

He said there was a need to scientifically analyse ground realities of South Asian countries. He said SAARC could not perform well without better relations between India and Pakistan. He said we must focus on human resource development in the region and bring our youths forward. He said more scholarship programmes must be launched for exchange of students and PHEC would fund youth leaders and women conferences to help in understanding each other.

Dr Zakria Zakar stressed the need to promote peace efforts in the region saying South Asian countries could resolve their issues through negotiations. He said PU administration would play its role in peace building and policy guidelines would be provided to the relevant stakeholders through such conferences, research and other academic programmes.