Prof. Zhon Rong from Jiangsu Normal University, China said on Monday that there is a lot of potential of investment and joint ventures between India and Pakistan. He was addressing an International Conference on "Socio-Economic and Cultural Relations between India and Pakistan" organised by Punjab University History Department.
He discussed the trade opportunities between three countries were immense and these could only be exploited if peace prevails in the region.
Former education minister Mian Imran Masud mentioned in his speech that it was really good that voices for peace with India were frequently heard and both the governments, particularly the government of Prime Minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif.
Prof. Dr Muhammad Waseem from LUMS focused on problems & prospects of peace between India and Pakistan. He argues that problems between the two countries did not emerge at official governmental level only but serious psychological and mental constructs create serious barriers and constraints for peace.
He emphasised that there was an urgent need to decontextualize the whole situation. Academic intellectual and even political discourses should shed the meta-narratives of glorifying their own 'selves' and vilifying the 'other'.
PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran in his presidential speech, emphasised that South Asian region was lagging behind in every sphere because of the continuous tension between the two countries. If the two states create an environment of peace, immense progress could be made in every sphere of life.
He urged that historians should write true history based on facts and there is a great need to produce good historical works.
Dean faculty of Arts and Humanities and Chairman Department of History Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, in his welcoming remarks, explained the objectives and themes of the conference and welcomed the guests, delegates and academicians.
Later, the inaugural session was followed by three academic sessions. These sessions focused on 'Economic and Socio-Cultural co-operation in South Asia', 'Shared Memories, Partition and Communal Relations' and 'Peace, Religion and Mysticism'. Fifteen scholars presented their papers in these sessions. The conference will continue till Wednesday (27th Nov).