International Office, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology in association with International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) organised 1st International Seminar on Peace, Trust Building and Sustainable Development on December 16th, 2016.
The main aim of this seminar was an exchange of knowledge and share experiences regarding peace, trust building and sustainable development. Members of civil societies and academia from different parts of the world participated in this seminar. The seminar was dedicated to the memories of the innocent school children and teachers who were martyred in an unprecedented act of terror on December 16th, 2014 at Army Public School, Peshawar.
Dr. Abdul Aziz Khan Advisor International Office welcomed the distinguished guests and highlighted the importance of the seminar. He particularly stressed on the role of higher educational institutions and Academia in promoting peace, trust building and sustainable development in the world.
The Seminar was opened with the screening of a documentary of Army Public School Peshawar followed by a special talk of Mr. Ahmad Nawaz- a survivor of Army Public School attack. Mr. Ahmad Nawaz, who is presently under treatment at Birmingham UK and working as global activist on peace and education focused on the importance of education for countering militancy and terrorism. National Action Plan and 21st Constitutional Amendment are the major steps which Pakistan has taken for rooting out extremism from Pakistani society. He added.
Ms. Cassandra D. Pecol was the key note speaker, who came from the United States with global message ‘tourism for peace’. She has travelled 196 sovereign states and is struggling to get the global title of youngest and fastest traveller. She spoke on global initiatives of peace and sustainable development and urged the youth to come forward and play a constructive role in achieving global peace. Earlier, she planted a ‘Peace Plant’ in the lawns of CIIT.
Todd Shae, Chief Executive Officer, CDRS in Pakistan spoke on the crucial importance of engaging youth for sustainable development. He also sung a famous song, ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ and paid tribute to late Junaid Jamshaid on this occasion.
Mr. Ersin Faikzade- Ambassador of IHRC and a Turkish Super Star Singer also spoke on the significance of peace, trust building and sustainable development.
The Seminar was attended by international delegates of World Youth Summit for Peace 2016 held in Islamabad with the collaboration of the Ministry of Youth, Government of Pakistan and IRHC. Ms. Tatian Speed from Canada performed Music for peace and with Waleed Tariq’ a student cum musician from CIIT . Ms. Roshnee Bhattarai (Miss Heritage World Nepal), Ms. Tizita Zerihun (Miss Ethiopia 2016) and Ms. Katerina Polyakova from Switzerland who have been tirelessly working for bringing peace to the world also attended the memorable seminar. The seminar was attended by more than 80 intellectual students and faculty members of CIIT.
By organising such a seminar of high national and international importance, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology has taken a big lead in its efforts to bringing peace and ensuring trust building through the power of knowledge in Pakistan. Hopefully, such seminars will be arranged every year on 16th December in honour of the sacrifices of our children, youth and elders for peace.
Click here for Pictures