GILGIT, May 9: Speakers at a conference here have stressed the need for promotion of peace and harmony to help expedite development activities in Northern Areas. The conference was held by the Halqa Arbab-i-Zauq in collaboration with the President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Nazir Sabir.

The speakers from different political, religious and social organizations urged people to shun their differences and forge sectarian harmony for peace and prosperity in the region.

They attributed sectarianism and intolerance in the society to lack of social justice and writ of law. They emphasized promotion of a culture of dialogue and respect for political institutions.

Northern Areas Chief Secretary Nadeem Manzoor, who was the chief guest, vowed to uphold merit and urged intellectuals to help promote harmony in the area.

In his welcome address, Mr Sabir referred to the indigenous struggle jointly waged by members of all schools of thought of the area to liberate Gilgit-Baltistan in 1947.

Attaullah Shahab of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) said a healthy civic society should be promoted in the area.

Advocate Syed Jaffar Shah contended that the undetermined constitutional status of Northern Areas had hindered promotion of political culture and helped sectarianism take roots in the region.

Northern Areas Legislative Council member Ibrahim Sanai said sectarianism was detrimental to socio-economic development in the region.