Islamabad(Online): The inculcation of nationalism and democratic values in the youth would help harness the larger benefits of a peaceful Pakistan, said the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani while inaugurating the youth peace conference “Together for Tolerance” here Wednesday.
The conference was well represented by the youth representatives from 28 cities to mark the World Peace Day.
He asked the leadership of different sectors and segments of society to vigorously take the youth’s on board for their active role in the respective fields. “Dynamic youth is our future that is 65 per cent of the total population, and we cannot afford to lose their potential and active participation in the development process”, he noted.
Mr Gilani said who else know the importance of peace more than us who have been suffering from terrorism for the last two decades.
Only youth with their positive attitude and productive initiatives can dispel the image that Pakistani Muslim youth is engaged in negative agenda against anyone.
Mr Gilani said, “As we are celebrating World Peace day, Peace has many meanings but in our current scenario peace is about co-existence and acceptance.
Accepting the other for what they are, there backgrounds and thought.
One of the reasons the societies flourished in the Islamic era was the peaceful and tolerant governments who supported everyone.
In Spain, due to this, the arts and other sciences grew and impacted the entire continent of Europe. Therefore, peace is the most fundamental of human needs, without which we are no better than animals.”
“In 2011, I awarded the National Peace Prize for Youth to Malala Yousafzai and later world recognize her efforts and gave her Nobel Prize. I see many potential Edhis and social activists and entrepreneurs amongst the youth”, he concluded.
