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| June 30, 2005 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1426 |
‘Education can rid country of poverty’
ISLAMABAD, June 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday stressed the need for transforming society towards progress and enlightenment through education, poverty alleviation and economic stability. A statement issued here quoted the president as saying that sustainable change in a society had to evolve from within through logic, reasoning and understanding of ground realities otherwise the people would reject any imposition of a change.
He was speaking at a meeting with a seven-member group of leading academicians from the United States, currently visiting Pakistan in the final phase of a special programme titled “Islamic Life in the United States,” organized under the auspices of the University of Louisville.
Numerous issues with particular reference to relations between the Muslim Ummah and the West, Pakistan’s role for the cause of peace and harmony in the world and other international matters were discussed during the meeting.
President Musharraf briefed the delegation about the steps taken to bring about a change in the country in an effort to rid the society of extremism and sectarian terrorism, which he said was against the spirit of Islam.
He said that the government was committed to realizing the objective of making the country a dynamic and prosperous Islamic welfare state as envisaged by the founders of the nation.
He also stressed on the need that the Ummah perform their duties faithfully.
President Gen Musharraf claimed that measures were underway for the emancipation of the vast majority through education, poverty alleviation and providing them basic amenities in the health and social sectors.
He also claimed that the majority of the citizens of Pakistan supported the reform agenda of the government.
Challenges faced by the Ummah in the present times came under discussion as well as Pakistan’s role with regard to OIC reforms and projection of Islam in its true perspective as a religion of peace and harmony.
APP adds: President Musharraf also explained at length that Islam enjoined its followers to faithfully discharge their duties to the Almighty and their fellow human beings and society (Haqooq Ul Ibad).
He said the vast majority of the people of Pakistan are moderate and religious with ultra-modern and extremist segments on the fringes of society.
The participants of the meeting included Dr David Horvath, Dr Paul Knitter, Dr Daniel Polish, Dr Leonard Swidler, Dr James Tompkins, Dr Marry Arnet, and Dr Liliayce Akers.
Professor Khalid Masud, Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology; Dr Riffat Hassan, Director of Islam in the United States Programme; Dr Manzoor Ahmed, Member, Council of Ideology, and Sardar M. Iqbal Khilji, coordinator of the team, were also present during the occasion.
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