A three-day children's posters exhibition titled 'Hum Hain Paasban Iss Kay' was inaugurated by federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira at the Pakistan National Council of Arts on Sunday
The unique exhibition is part of Aman's (Awareness Movement for an Alert Nation) public awareness campaign, which focuses on the responsiveness of the public towards improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Aman's administration and CRS Communication Company jointly arranged the exhibition.
A 12-year-old boy named Noman Ahmed, who had travelled all the way from Karachi, inaugurated the opening ceremony.
Ali Zafar of CRS said that Noman worked in Karachi as a car washer. He had saved the Sindh metropolis from a catastrophe when he foiled a terrorist bid to blow up an IED stuffed with 32 kilograms of explosives in front of a commercial bank.
He noticed wires hanging out of what looked like a cement block and rushed to a nearby community police station. His ready response and presence of mind saved the city from what could have been one of the worst disasters in Karachi's history.
The chief guest announced to take the responsibility of educating Noman. He said: "It is my responsibility. I will arrange expenses for his study either by myself or arrange through Baitul Mal."
The exhibition's objective was to educate youth about the potential destructiveness of home-made IEDs, how to identify them and alert law-enforcement agencies about their presence.
The exhibition will remain open on April 23-24 for general public.
Highlighting various aspects of the scourge of extremism, Kaira stressed the need for tolerance and dialogue in the society, adding that it was the only way to deter anti-state activities.
He said that religion and linguistic backgrounds were used a tool to spread terrorism in the society.
"Pakistan's army is defender of our borders, but as citizens, we must promote awareness and good norms through dialogue, drama and culture," he said. Youth, he said, could play a positive role in this context.