Indian scouts’ leader Ms Geeta Rawat on Saturday proposed that Pakistan and India could jointly host the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) scouts’ camp scheduled to take place later this year.
She stated this while addressing a function held in the honour for contingent of Indian scouts’ on Saturday here at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) headquarters.
Ms Geeta Rawat reciprocated the friendly sentiments from the Pakistani side and said they could undertake students’ exchange programme for promoting goodwill on people-to-people level. She said the students from India will be encouraged to take admission in AIOU for higher education. She noted that AIOU is well-equipped with latest technology and its academic programme could be beneficial for the Indian students as well.
Geeta said she was highly impressed by the university for extending best possible educational facilities to the females at their door-steps, through distance-learning system.
Addressing the function, Vice Chancellor AIOU Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi said the university will join hands with Indian scouts Association for undertaking community-based socio-economic development programs for their common benefit and prosperity.
AIOU will prepare a volunteer force of its 70,000 students which could coordinate with the Indian Scouts Association for promoting peace and friendship through joint socio-economic projects.
“We are all for peace and the students of AIOU will be on forefront to achieve this cherished goal,” the Vice Channellor said adding that the university’s students could also visit cross the border for tree plantation as a gesture of good-will. While welcoming the Indian scouts’ contingent, he said they the scouts could work as messengers of peace and their role will be highly important in reducing tension and revolving certain conflicts between the two countries.
“Education is the main vehicle in the efforts of brining peace,” he said adding the AIOU could work with its Indian counterpart to achieve the universal goal “Education for all”.
The students force and the scouts associations should work actively in propagating awareness about the importance of peace and tranquility in their relationship,” he asserted.
Dr Sangi said that that scout movement is playing an important role in promoting peace and harmony across the world. Through the scouts movement, they could more effectively propagate the message of peace, brotherhood and reconciliation.
The vice-chancellor further said that the visit of Indian scouts to Pakistan would not only strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries but also help resolve conflicts. It is a good step towards enhancing mutual relations and it also projects the message that people of India and Pakistan have cordial relations. In his vote of thanks, National Commissioner of Pakistan Boys Scout Association Commander Aftab Qureshi said the promotion of scouts’ movement is the need of the hour for promoting peace and development in the region.
Coordinator of the visit, President AIOU’s Officers staff Association Mir Mukhtar Talpur also addressed the function and highlighted the importance of peace in India-Pakistan relationship for their socio-economic development.
The function was attended by 125-member Indian Scouts contingent. Indian Boys and Girls Scouts were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival in the university. All Deans and other senior officers of the University joined the reception.
