Islamabad: A two-day international conference titled “Strengthening People’s to People’s Dialogues” concluded at Higher Education Commission Islamabad with an aim to foster ties and building relationships on tangible prospects.
The conference was jointly organised by the Mediothek Pakistan, University of Peshawar, Regional studies centre of Afghanistan, Bacha Khan Trust educational Foundation (BKTEF) with financial support from the German government.
The conference at the end came up with suggestions to further improve the relationships between two brotherly countries in the field of education, media, political institutions and civil society institutions.
Earlier, delivering inaugural keynote speech, Vice Chancellor Kohat University of Science & Technology, Professor Nasir Jamal Khattak pinned down key linguistic and cultural aspects of Pashtun Society integration and hope that cross-border literary stimulation will strengthen relationships. He pointed out that peace must remain pursuit of people as an un-ending journey.
Dr. Shahjehan Sayed, chairman Department of Journalism & Mass communication, University of Peshawar, while welcoming delegates from Afghanistan’s civil society and journalist’s members hope that these exchanges will bring a positive change. He said that University of Peshawar as envisioned by founder of nation will take the message of broader regional enlightenment across Central Asia and this conference is a step towards this goal.
Dr. Khadim Hussain, Managing Director (BKTEF) emphasized on eliminating stereotypes being seeped in both countries people minds about one another. He said that promotion of religiosity in Afghanistan from foreign forces have created a vacuum resulting in misunderstanding of each other problems.
Tribal union of Journalists president Safdar Dawar called upon two countries journalists to come to mutual agreement on regional issues coverage. He said that mutual sittings, stagings and declarations will strengthen the bonds between Journalists unions and press council. He deplored that 83 journalists killing in Pakistan since 2001has gone unresolved even if state has gone for instituting two commissions.
Senior Journalists Rahim ullah Yousafzai said that border region in both countries lack credible and established media institutions. He refuted that Pakistan fails to accommodate Afghan channels beaming on its soil but instead Afghan TV channels failed to pail pay taxes, landing rights fees to Pakistani media authority PEMRA.
The Cultural attaché at Afghanistan Embassy Islamabad, Shams Zardasht presented Afghanistan Government initiatives for bringing two countries much more closely. He requested Pakistan Governmental media machinery to relax Landing rights framework for Afghan electronic media as it is fledgling industry.
Mediothek Afghanistan managing director Hamid Zazai, said his organization will keep working on building bridges and avoiding erecting walls. He said that this Track II contact through salubrious cooperation of Pakistan embassy at Kabul will be gaining more momentum in coming times.
Ten speakers came- up with presentations on issues affecting both countries from issues from Media, civil society and Human rights perspective on the first day.
On second day, Higher Education Commission’s Operations and planning member Dr. Nasir Ali Khan said that new road networks from China, Pakistan and Afghanistan are offering huge potential for regional economic integration. He said that Lawari Tunnel once operational, will be conduit for central Asia.
Former Afghan Parliamentarian and Journalist Mir Ahmed Joyenda said that a free South Asian trade zone is a possibility and civil society should work towards that goal.
President Regional studies centre of Afghanistan Abdul Ghafoor Liwal said that International assistance given to Afghanistan has not met it goals as it is politically motivated rather than economically driven. He said that Marshal Plan like comprehensive activity if being implemented for regional countries including Afghanistan would be more beneficial. He said that time has come to establish mutual R&D, media think tanks, and mutual policy think tanks.
Professor of International relations at University of Peshawar, Ijaz khattak told gathering that decision bodies in both countries need to be taken on board on every mutual activity. He said that in modern times states Sovereignty become irrelevant and liquid border passage is insurance to trade and prosperity.
Former Afghan Parliamentarian and member civil society coordination centre Malalai Gul Shinwari avow to form Mutual women chapters across both countries. She said that Swat Malala is one single Malala for Pakistan and Afghanistan has several Malala girls as victims of obscurantist’s forces from past three decades.
Sana Ijaz said that girls are victimized in Pakistan in general and in Pashtun areas in particular through educational course design full with gender discrimination. She demanded that gender sensitive curricula needs to be practice to overcome the gender stereotypes.
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