Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany Mr.Abdul Basit has said that the thin minority of extremist elements should not be used as a bench mark for stereotyping the entire nation of Pakistan.
Emergence of different advocacy groups and independent media have laid a foundation of very vibrant civil society in Pakistan and its importance in national decision making has immensely increased under the present democratic regime, he said.
Addressing the participants of a Seminar on Pakistan: Challenges and Responses organized by the South Asia Institute of the Heidelberg University last evening, Mr.Basit said that despite a host of challenges and problems, many of them crept into the society due to long drawn conflict in the western neighboring country ,Pakistan has kept the momentum of growth as well as modernity.
He referred to different political reforms introduced by the government to strengthen the democratic process in the country as well as enactment of laws to protect the rights of women and said that the people of Pakistan need support and encouragement at this time of transition and not unfounded criticism based on perceptions created by the vested interests.
Prof. Dr. Marcus Nuesser, Executive Director of the South Asia Institute made a presentation on his research work on Melting of Glacier in Nanga Parbat and concluded that the melting process is not as fast as some researchers thought it would be. Prof. Dr. Harald Hamptmann of the same University shared his experiences with the audience about his research work on the old languages and the art of rock carving in the northern parts of Pakistan.
Dr. Niaz A. Shah of University of Hull,UK said that Pakistan’s Political and Military leadership has shown their willingness and commitment to weed out the terrorism and militancy through different military operations that they took during the last four years. He said that it was unfortunate that the western scholars always relied on one sided version of the on going conflict in Afghanistan and never tried to find out the other version to balance their research work in this regard.
A cultural programme showcasing Pakistani dresses and stage performance on Pakistani folk songs and tunes by young Pakistani and German students was the hall mark of the day long events. Prof. Dr. Wiqar Ali Shah, Head of Iqbal Chair, Heidelberg University thanked the guests for attending the events on Pakistan organized by the institute as a part of its 50 years celebrations. Pakistan Embassy also set up a stall showcasing some items of Pakistani handicrafts, embroidered dresses and accessories on this occasion.
Earlier, The ambassador also inaugurated the Photo Exhibition on Nanga Parbat
Glacier by Prof. Dr. Marcus Nuesser and visited the place where National Poet Allama Iqbal stayed during his studies in Heidelberg.
