ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday urged students to become community mobilisers while preparing one packet of food for children and mothers in flood-affected areas and submit it to their respective universities.

The minister made this appeal, while speaking at the conference on International Day of Peace, organised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director Dr Shaista Sohail and a number of students and faculty members attended the conference.

“Every university student should mobilise himself and prepare one packet of food for mothers and children in flood-affected areas,” said the minister, while reiterating that the government was making an all-out effort towards this cause.

The minister asked the HEC chairman to set the target of two million students in universities for collection of one packet of food, adding that their specification would be shared soon.

Minister asks HEC chairman to set target of 2m university students for collection of one packet of food

These two million food packets will be distributed among flood-affected people, especially mothers and children, in the next 10 days through the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), he added.

The planning minster further said that one-third of the country had been affected by floods and the incumbent government was making efforts for rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas and urged vice chancellors to engage student activists for helping them.

Peace and development go hand in hand as no society has developed with chaos, he said, adding that students should become ambassadors of peace and move forward with dialogue.

Further quoting Nelson Mandela, he said: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. Mandela said this and I agree with him.”

Meanwhile, over 54 paintings created by young artists to commemorate the United Nations International Day for Peace were displayed at the Punjab Arts Council Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

The exhibits are the outcome of an art competition organised by Devcom-Pakistan (Development Communications Network) to mark yet another significant UN day. The event was sponsored by the Islamabad Crescent Lion Club.

Participants of the competition also highlighted the impact of wars and bloodshed in their paintings. Senator Fawzia Arshad emphasised that everyone has a part to play in creating peaceful societies where generations can prosper. She declared everyone should teach their children and young people to respect one another’s beliefs and way of life.

Riffat Ara Baig, head of the art and design section at the Westminster School was chief of jury on the occasion. While announcing the names of the winners, she said students have reflected much-desired messages of peace, adding that creative pursuits are the best way of educating people as images remain in our minds forever.

The winners of the first second and third prizes were Tadbiha Rehan, Aneela Malhi and Roobia Gulfaraz.

Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed was the guest of honour. Speaking on the occasion, he urged the authorities, educational institutions and civil society organisations, and social groups to engage people of any age in creative art therapy.

“Engagement in art gives peace of mind and an undefined ultimate pleasure. Our politicians, hardliners and vulnerable communities need them the most. Our artists shall come up to engage them for a tolerant society,” Mr Ahmed said while quoting the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2022