NIPP holds roundtable conference on Inter-Sect Harmony and Countering Extremism

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Jun, 2026) The National Institute of Public Policy (NIPP) organized a roundtable conference titled “Inter-Sect Harmony and Countering Extremism.”

The Primary objective of the conference was to propose practical measures for promoting peace, tolerance, and coexistence within society, said a press release issued here on Thursday.

Welcoming the distinguished guests and prominent religious scholars, the National Institute of Public Policy Dean Dr Naveed Elahi, delivered the opening remarks and highlighted the significance of the topic in detail.

He stated, “In the current national and international environment, inter-sect harmony is one of the most pressing needs of our time. For Pakistan’s survival and stability, it is essential that we avoid divisions based on sects and groups. Educational and research institutions have a responsibility to provide platforms where dialogue can prevent extremist thinking and help establish the foundations of peace and stability in society.”

On this occasion, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Imam of the Badshahi Mosque, remarked, ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan’ is a historic and unanimously endorsed document that serves as a guarantee of peace and order in the country. The time has come to incorporate this national narrative into the formal educational curriculum so that future generations can be protected from intellectual confusion and ideological fragmentation.”

Former member of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Maulana Zubair Ahmad Zaheer, said, “No society can progress without eliminating sectarianism. All schools of thought must respect each other’s existence and beliefs, and our Mosques and religious platforms should promote only messages of love, unity, and solidarity.”

Member of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Dr Muhammad Shafiq Khan Pasruri said, “Provocative and hate-filled speeches are eating away at the peace of society like termites.

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We must strictly avoid all activities that may hurt others’ sentiments, and this requires the implementation of a strong code of conduct.”

Dr. Zulfiqar Haider, Secretary General of the Research Center at Jamia Arwa Al-Wafi, said, “Countering extremism cannot be achieved through speeches alone, it requires in-depth academic research and intellectual dialogue. We must develop scholarly arguments that can protect young people from falling into misguidance.”

Qazi Abdul Ghaffar Qadri emphasized, “Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, love, and brotherhood. We must take all segments of society along with us and eliminate the divisions that extremist elements exploit for their own interests through mutual understanding and cooperation.”

At the conclusion of the conference, participants unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to adopting a zero-tolerance policy against incitement and hate speech and expanding the reach of Paigham-e-Pakistan to grassroots levels.

The event was organized by Senior Research Associate Bushra Bashir and Research Associate Ishrat Akhtar. Nabeela Javed, Additional Secretary of the Auqaf Department, briefed participants on the initiatives undertaken by the Punjab government.

Former Vice Chancellor of the University of the Punjab, Dr. Khalid Mahmood, also attended the conference, along with officers from the National Institute of Public Policy and EDI.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Naveed Elahi welcomed the valuable recommendations presented by the speakers, thanked them for their contributions, and assured participants that these recommendations would be forwarded to higher governmental authorities for policy formulation.

At the end of the ceremony, he also presented commemorative shields to the distinguished guests.