ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan inaugurated Aliya Academy of Internal Arts on Thursday.

The academy aims to impart courses in the domain of holistic wellness, including mental, emotional and physical health.

The founder of the academy, Aliya Agha, informed the participants that even though man had made great advances in technology there was an unprecedented rise in the autoimmune diseases.

The academy will offer courses such as introduction to Sufism, laughter therapy and vibration therapy.

There are certification courses on art therapy and yoga teacher training. The certification will enable the students to undertake employment, nationally and internationally.

Firdous Ashiq Awan lauded the initiative as the need of the hour and said Sufism taught us the lesson of love and peace and made people good human being.

She said Sufi saints of the Indian subcontinent spread the true picture of Islam and taught the message of love and peace. She said there was a need to follow in the footsteps of Sufi saints.

In the modern days of digitalisation when people are engaged in mobile phones, society should promote family culture to reduce stress and share each other’s problems, she said.

Nigar Nazar, the first Pakistani woman cartoonist, presented her work and spoke of art as directly impacting wellness and wellbeing. Anne Ostby, author and journalist from Norway, spoke a writer’s journey towards wellbeing. She said creative writing can represent both resistance and refuge.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2019