A TWO-DAY VICE-CHANCELLORS’ CONFERENCE ON CIVIC EDUCATION WAS HELD I N A LOCAL HOTEL UNDER THE AUSPICES OF PUNJAB HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION

Lahore, : A two-day Vice-Chancellors’ Conference on Civic Education was held in a local hotel in collaboration with Punjab Higher Education Commission and Center for Peace and Secular Studies. The conference was inaugurated by Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Adviser to the Chief Minister Punjab on Law and Parliamentary Affairs. Chairman of Punjab HEC Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir welcomed the guests. Vice Chancellors of 30 universities of Punjab are participating in the conference. Addressing the conference, Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said that civic education is the basis of democracy. In an age of sectional discrimination, intolerance and disinformation, civic education serves as a ray of hope. This conference is a testament to the strong commitment of our educational institutions to promote civic education. Punjab HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir said in his address that universities should be made centers of the culture of dialogue, understanding and respect. Higher educational institutions are not just places of learning as these are the places where ideas are nurtured, where minds are formed and where future leaders are made. These institutions have the power to create a culture of dialogue, understanding and respect. The world is facing global challenges like poverty, terrorism and forced displacement. The world is at a crossroads. We are also seeing record levels of xenophobia, racism and divisive political discourse that are putting societies apart. We have to live with digital transformations with the power to bring us closer together. Sectarianism and religious hatred are the biggest obstacles in our economic, social, ethical and other progress. For peace and order and a peaceful life in the society, the culture of patience and tolerance must be promoted. Political, social, religious and intellectual leaders should teach people good manners and patience while teachers should teach and train students in ethics. Our society cannot afford any kind of mischief and corruption. The topics of non-violence, social and economic justice, gender equality, environmental sustainability, disarmament should be discussed. Saida Deep of Center for Peace and Secular Studies said that the purpose of education is to bring about social change in the real sense rather than imparting information. Educational institutions are not only centers of knowledge but also centers of character, compassion and conscientious citizenship. This conference will pave the way for the promotion of civic education in universities. In the conference discussions were held on various topics and among them senior journalists Mujibur Rahman Shami, Jawad Faizi, Sughri Sadaf, Zafarullah Khan, Dr. Mehboob Hussain, Dr. Yaqub, Dr. Ahmad Bilal, Dr. Sharia Hussaini, Dr. Murtaza Jafri, Rashid Rana, Dr. Zeeshan Raja, Babar Yaqub, Naeem Masood participated. Mujeebur Rahman Shami said that social media has become free from all kinds of regulations. Social media has a big hand in spreading lies and propaganda in the society. In these circumstances the responsibility of the journalism departments of universities has increased. Just as special courts are formed to end terrorism, strict measures should also be taken against misuse of media. Accountability system needs to be made further strict.