PESHAWAR, Sept 17: Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah Khan on Sunday stressed the need for following the teachings of Islam to meet the challenges of the future.

He said: “People belonging to every walk of life and sect should cooperate and strengthen the government’s hands to make Pakistan a progressive, vibrant and Islamic welfare state among the comity of nations.”

He expressed these views while addressing a convention on “Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen” in Kohat on Sunday.

He said Islam and violence are two different things. He attributed present-day problems of the Muslims to non-adherence to the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

Commenting on the remarks made by Pope Benedict, he said it was all because of lack of unity in the Muslim Ummah.

He underscored the need to follow the teachings of Islam which presents solutions to all problems confronted by the Ummah today. He lauded the role of the Bangesh Ittehad Council, a local NGO, for its social work in Kohat and Hangu.

Dr G. G. Jamal, Federal Minister for Culture, said that it was the prime responsibility of the government to maintain law and order.

Former governor NWFP Mohammad Arif Bangash, former speaker provincial assembly Masood Kasur and District Nazim Kohat Gohar Saifullah spoke on the occasion.—APP