PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the concerned authorities to immediately formulate finance and human resource committees under the board of Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism so that financial budget, organogram and other important matters could be finalised without any delay.

The chief minister issued these directives while speaking at the first meeting of the Board of Governors of Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism, according to a statement issued here on Wednesday.

He said the provincial government was taking every possible step to create a peaceful and violence-free society and the establishment of the proposed center of excellence was part of this struggle.

He hoped that the centre of excellence would play an important role in creating a peaceful society by using evidence-based innovative approaches and worldwide research to prevent and combat violent extremism in the province.

Provincial minister for higher education Kamran Bangash, special assistant to CM on information Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, MPA Dr Ayesha Asad, administrative secretaries of the higher education, home and law departments, chief coordination officer of the centre of excellence and other board members attended the meeting.

Briefing the meeting about the objectives of the centre, its proposed functions and organogram, budget estimates, powers and other important aspects, the forum was informed that the centre would work as a research-based institute to cope with the issues emerging from terrorism, subversive activities, hatred, extremism, intolerance, radicalisation, etc.

The authorities said that this would be a unique initiative of its nature not only in Pakistan, but across Asia.

While agreeing to the need and importance and the proposed functions of the centre, the forum has directed the quarters concerned to take necessary steps to make it functional as soon as possible.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2022