LAHORE: Speakers at the Students Societies Conference stressed the need for strengthening the role of students societies for promoting peace narrative on campuses.

The conference was organised by the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES), Punjab University, on Tuesday.

Punjab Governor’s wife Parveen Sarwar, Punjab Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Humayun, PU Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Taqi Zahid Butt, Prof Dr Nizamuddin, UMT VC Dr Abid Sherwani, Minhaj University Rector Dr Shahid Soroya, CEES Principal Prof Dr Sajid Rashid, faculty members and a large number of students were present.Mrs Sarwar said the role of student’s societies should be enhanced and they should be provided platform to polish their skills.

She urged the students to come forward and play their part by realizing that their future depended on the present and whatever they chose to do now.

She said that parents should not discriminate between son and daughter.

She said that 50 percent of the patients in hospitals were suffering from waterborne diseases.

Raja Humayun said the government was focusing on the youth. “We believe that their role has the enduring impact,” he said, adding that concrete efforts have been made to strengthen the youth role in society.

He said the government was trying to promote peace, tolerance, unity and brotherhood in society and we were committed to restoring the spirit of tolerance and acceptance amongst all the citizens of Pakistan.

PU acting VC Mr Butt said the University of the Punjab was the hub of ideas, innovation and knowledge and that they were trying to play their role to inculcate the values of responsible citizenship, peace, tolerance, harmony and co-existence among the youth.

CEES Principal Rashid said students societies were effectively engaged for peace narrative and their role should be strengthened as it would give platform in building strong leadership, communication and networking skills.

The conference also involved the panel discussions.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2019