QUETTA: Thorough implementation of the Constitution is essential for achieving social cohesion, experts said on Thursday at a workshop aimed at promoting tolerance and inclusivity among youth.

The workshop, “Building Bridges: Fostering Tolerance and Inclusivity among Youth,” organised by the Islamabad-based think tank Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIIPS).

It brought together academics, religious scholars, journalists, and political activists, along with students from universities, colleges, and seminaries in Quetta, Panjgur, and Noshki.

“Inclusivity means providing equal opportunities in life to all segments of society and respecting everyone, regardless of religion or ethnicity,” said Muhammad Amir Rana, president of PIPS, during the concluding session.

Experts ask students to reject violence, embrace critical thinking

Allama Akbar Hussain Zahidi, a religious scholar, said the Constitution of Pakistan is the key to unity among diverse social groups.

“The Constitution is a binding force among different groups of society,” Mr Zahidi said. “Most of the problems of Balochistan could be resolved by implementing this document in letter and spirit.”

Senior journalist and former president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Shahzada Zulfiqar said Pakistanis are reluctant to accept people from different faiths, ethnicities, and languages, which hinders national harmony.

“It is the Constitution that guarantees peaceful coexistence among people of different backgrounds,” Mr Zulfiqar said. “Everyone should respect others’ ethnicity, faith, and opinion.”

During a panel discussion, Prof. Mir Sadaat Baloch, pro vice chancellor of the University of Makran, urged students to reject violence and negativity.

“The actual problem of Balochistan is not terrorism,” he said. “There is a governance crisis in the province.”

Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi, a leader of Jamaat-i-Islami, spoke about the 2018 Paigham-i-Pakistan decree, which he described as a national consensus aimed at countering extremism and terrorism.

“The decree explicitly tells us that one cannot impose his religious thoughts on others,” Mr Hashmi said.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2025