Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has initiated a dialogue with the nation. In this regard, the first dialogue was held with a galaxy of writers and intellectuals from all over Pakistan and that dialogue has been reportedly highly productive.
Indeed, dialogue plays a significant role in the community and nation building. In the past, the defunct Pakistan National Centres were utilised to promote dialogue, publicise pivotal policies and national issues and mobilise the masses about the issues of national importance but nowadays there are no appropriate forums in the country for this purpose. Had we promoted such positive trends in the country since its genesis then the menaces like extremism, militancy and terrorism would not have emerged.
However, this recuperative initiative of the cabinet division deserves handsome praise. The cabinet division and the prime minister’s secretariat should make more efforts to promote a rational and reasoned dialogue with the nation.
The cabinet division should also arrange dialogues on topics such as agriculture and sustainable development, rural development, women and business etc.
Also, the suggestions emanating from these dialogues should be collected and tried to be implemented by sincerity.
Indeed, by promoting dialogue on important social, cultural, political and economic issues, the present PPP-led coalition government has given this message that it wants to have a new-dialogue and development oriented and forward-looking Pakistan – not intolerant, extremist and backward Pakistan.
HASHIM ABRO
Islamabad
