July 19, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 15, 1429

GUJRAT, July 18: Futuristic perspective of peace lies in Sufism but the new colonial forces have marred the philosophies, human intellect and beauty.

Speakers said this in a three-day international seminar titled “Resurgence of Sufism as a Universal Movement for Peace and Development” organized by the University of Gujrat in collaboration with the World Punjabi Forum at Hafiz Hayat campus on Friday. Governor Salman Taseer inaugurated the seminar.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nizamuddin said the lessons of Sufism had become a necessity to resolve the conflicts in the world.

The governor said that Islam is a religion of peace and it condemns terrorism and extremism in all forms.

He said the Punjabi culture was on the decline in its home province and he had asked all universities in the province to take steps for the promotion of the local culture.

He said that he wanted to declare 2009 the year of Punjabi culture.

World Punjabi Forum chairman Fakhar Zaman said that Sufism could play an effective role in bringing peace to the world, particularly between India and Pakistan.

The vice-chairman of Academy of Letters, India, Dr S.S Nur said the future was connected with Sufism based on aesthetic sense, human intellect and beauty.

The vice-chancellor also gave away a shield to the Punjab governor. Provincial Finance Minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, PPP leader Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gul and a large number of scholars, professors and students were also present.

On the occasion, students also performed tableaus based on Sufism.