Vice Chancellor Sindh University Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat has said that a strong natural longing for peace runs in the blood of people of Pakistan due to centuries-long teachings and influence of Sufi saints, adding that attitude-patterns and behavioural-codes played vital role towards creating tolerant and civilized societies.
He said this while delivering his presidential remarks on the occasion of 3-day seminar on "Practical and Theoretical Aspects of Peace and Conflict in a Deeply Local but Globalized World" at Shaikh Ayaz Auditorium of Faculty of Arts building, University of Sindh Jamshoro on Tuesday. He said, "A peaceful, happy and progressive world is a universal dream. We all need to strive together as a well-knit world community to realize this dream. Pakistan is peace-loving state possessing culture characterized pre-dominantly by core human values and essential humanitarian traditions like peaceful co-existence, social harmony, tolerance, and respect for civil liberties, secularism, love and welfare of all. Pakistan's significant contribution toward combating terrorism and promoting peace in the world serves as a bright luminous chapter in the global annals."
"There are hundreds of issues that happen to be personal, domestic, communal, social and highly localized in nature and context. Such problems can conveniently be resolved through localized opportune interventions," he said. Dr Burfat traced with the help of numerous convincing examples from history the inter-linkage of essentially local clashes flaring into international conflicts due to continued negligence.
The VC said, "I reckon this 3-day seminar a highly valuable initiative in a world wrecked by the monster of extremism and terrorism. I am confident that the scholars who are to present their researches in the ensuing working sessions of the seminar will address all necessary facets of the theme and put forth implementable recommendations as a way forward". Dr Burfat also asserted that peace was the first prerequisite for success, prosperity, progress, performance and productive life.
The first day witnessed three working sessions that included scholarly presentations ie "Pakistan's Message" by Dr Zia-ul-Haq of International Islamic University, Islamabad, "Drug War and Peace" by Dr Suleman Shahzad of Karachi University and "Concept of Peace in the Writings of Mirza Kalich Beg" by illustrious poet of Pakistan Dr Adal Soomro. All presentations won unprecedented audience applause. Earlier, Dr Muhammad Akram Ansari, Director, Centre for Physical Education, Health and Sports Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro threw light on the objectives of the seminar, Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan Mughal presented welcome note, Professor Dr Nek Muhammad Shaikh, Director, Office of the Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), University of Sindh, Jamshoro shared report regarding achievements of ORIC; whereas, Dr Nawab Kaka, Director, Shams-ul-Ulema Mirza Kalich Beg Chair offered vote of thanks.