ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb said Thursday that educating and imparting training to the children on civics in their formative years will not only bring tolerance to Pakistan but is also vital to instill a positive sense of well-being among them.
She said this while addressing the closing ceremony of the two-day course “Strategic Communication and Media Engagement for Information Officers”.
She said that the holding of courses for training and capacity building of children had great importance in the context of elimination of terrorism and the strategy to change the mindset of the youth.
The minister said that initiating the course for information officers was an auspicious beginning and it was incumbent upon them to keep themselves abreast with the new technologies and inventions in the domain of media.
She said that journalists would also be imparted trainings on similar lines. She remarked that such courses were also essential for the journalists to promote a culture of tolerance and self-accountability in the media.
She said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was playing a pivotal role in the development of anti-terrorist narrative, adding that if its officers were given training against terrorism it could have multifarious impact on the society.
Marriyum informed the audience that the syllabus of the training course offered at the Information Service Academy was being revised and subjects pertaining to anti-terrorism would also be included in it.
She said that it was imperative to sensitise the overseas Pakistanis about the working of some charity organisations that used their donations to extend financial assistance to terrorists in the country.
She further said that welfare organisations were important for any society but they have to extend the assurance that their donations were being appropriately utilised. She said that by changing the mindset of individuals, peace could be achieved in the society.
She said that the government had drawn up a plan for the revival of culture, heritage and the film industry with a view to develop anti-terrorist narrative.
The minister observed that it was the collective responsibility of all segments of society to contribute to this effort, adding that the elimination of terrorism and religious extremism was only possible through education and training. She also said that Pakistan was fighting the war against terrorism since the last 30 years.
During the two-day course, several sessions were held for capacity building of the information officers. The minister also awarded certificates to the participating officers of the course. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Additional Secretary Shafqat Jalil and Pakistan Peace Collective Chief Executive Officer Shabbir Anwar were also present on the occasion.
