In the wake of powerful forces of modernity and globalisation, Pakistani society is in state of rapid transition and it has witnessed a substantial shift in people's attitude, behaviour, patterns and network of relations.
Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) said this while addressing a five-hour long discussion of students drawn from various colleges and universities throughout the provinces at the Governor House here on Thursday night.
"In the present circumstances, the question is how could Pakistan be able to preserve its civilisation heritage and religious identity in the face of contemporary social, economic and cultural challenges", Maqbool asked.
He said understandably, the political leaders and intellectual elite were under obligation to provide direction and vision to this change.
The Governor said they needed to develop a framework to make Pakistan a progressive, plural, egalitarian and enlightened country capable of meeting challenges of the 21st century, and protecting the human dignity of weaker and disadvantageous sections of the society.
Intellectuals, journalists, educationists and students were given opportunity to express their opinion, suggestions and submit proposal as how the nation could be converted into a society, which should be free from exploitation and other social ills, including sectarianism, extremism and intolerance, he added.
The Punjab Governor recalled that the present government was completely liberal in thinking but within certain limits and granted joint electoral rights to the minorities living in the Pakistani society. "Parliament will ratify one of the landmark amended Hudood Ordinance in a day or two", the Governor said.