ISLAMABAD, May 5: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will form a volunteer force out of its 70,000 students which could coordinate with the Indian Scouts Association (ISA) for promoting peace and friendship through joint socio-economic projects.

It was announced by Vice Chancellor AIOU Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi while addressing a function held at university’s main campus in Islamabad on Saturday in which 125-member contingent of the ISA participated.

Dr Sangi said they are all for peace and the students of the AIOU will always be on the forefront to achieve this cherished goal.

He added the scouts could work as messengers of peace and their role will be highly important in reducing tension and resolving conflicts between the two countries.

“Education is the main vehicle in the efforts of brining peace,” he said adding the AIOU could work with its Indian counterpart to achieve the universal goal of “Education for all”. The student force and the scouts associations should work actively in propagating awareness about the importance of peace and tranquility in their relationship, he asserted.

He said the visit of Indian scouts to Pakistan would not only strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries but also help resolve conflicts.

It is a good step towards enhancing mutual relations and it also projects the message that people of India and Pakistan have cordial relations.

Addressing the function, the Indian scouts’ leader Ms Geeta Rawat reciprocated the friendly sentiments from the Pakistani side and said they could undertake students’ exchange programme for promoting goodwill on people-to-people level.

She said the students from India will be encouraged to take admission in the AIOU for higher education. She proposed that Pakistan and India could jointly host the Saarc Scouts’ Camp, scheduled to be held later this year.

National Commissioner of Pakistan Boy Scouts Association Commander Aftab Qureshi and President AIOU Officers Welfare Association Mir Mukhtar Talpur also spoke to the participants on the occasion and said all possible efforts should be made to establish peace and brotherly relationship between the two countries for the welfare of the masses.