Bahawalpur, In a significant move to promote religious harmony and understanding among students, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, in collaboration with the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), organized a seminar titled “The Impact of Interfaith Programs in Pakistani Universities on Religious Tolerance and Understanding.” Prof. Dr. Naveed Akhtar, Vice-Chancellor of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, highlighted the full support provided by the PHEC in enhancing teaching, research, and quality improvement across universities.
According to a news release by the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Dr. Akhtar shared his views during a meeting with Dr. Tanveer Qasim, Director Coordination of PHEC, and Dr. Akmal Soomro, Public Relations Officer of the University of Home Economics Lahore. He emphasized the PHEC’s commitment to fostering a respectful attitude towards religions and humanity through educational institutions, aiming to inculcate values of moderation and tolerance in society. He also acknowledged the potential benefits of organizing a seminar on religious harmony and tolerance at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur for both teachers and students.
Present at the meeting were Prof. Dr. Sheikh Shafiq ur Rehman, Dean Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies; Prof. Dr. Sajjad Ahmed Paracha, Controller of Examinations; Dr. Shahid Mehmood, Director Alumni; and Shahzad Ahmed Khalid, Director Media and Public Relations. Dr. Tanveer Qasim and Dr. Akmal Soomro were awarded the Alumni Shield by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Naveed Akhtar.
During the seminar, Dr. Qasim underscored the importance of interfaith harmony as a foundation for social and economic development, warning against the perils of extremist behavior and hateful thinking. He called for research conducted in universities to be beneficial for the state, highlighting the teachings of Islam regarding mutual respect, patience, and tolerance. Dr. Akmal Soomro spoke about the necessity of research on promoting peace and tolerance in universities to bring societal benefits.
The event also featured speeches from various faculty members, and a large number of students and faculty participated. Prof. Dr. Sheikh Shafiq ur Rehman, Dr. Hafiz Shafiq ur Rehman, Dr. Shajila Kaushar, and Dr. Jibran Jamshed provided insights on promoting both interfaith and inter-religious harmony, stressing the need for academic and intellectual training to foster religious tolerance among the youth.