Punjab govt committed to eliminating extremism, promoting peaceful society: minister

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Mar, 2026) Punjab Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that the government is making all-out efforts to eliminate extremism and establish a peaceful society.

He expressed these views while presiding over the third meeting of the Board of Governors of the Punjab Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism held at the Home Department on Wednesday.

During the meeting, officials of the Home Department gave a detailed presentation on the establishment, aims, and objectives of the institution. The newly inducted members of the board were welcomed, while the Board of Governors expressed satisfaction over the performance of the Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism.

The meeting approved the minutes of the second Board meeting and reviewed the implementation of its decisions. A performance report of the center for the last two months was also presented. The board approved job descriptions and eligibility criteria for assistant directors, along with a three-year action plan, strategy paper, and policy brief.

Approval was also granted for hiring social media and fellowship consultants, as well as for the renovation of the institution’s office building and procurement of furniture. It was decided that the next meeting of the Board of Governors would be convened within a month.

Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafique said the role of the institution has become increasingly important in the current national context.

He termed the establishment of the Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism by the Chief Minister Punjab a significant step, adding that practical measures are being taken to address the challenges of extremism. He further noted that the education and Information Departments have been included in the Board of Governors to strengthen the institution’s outreach.

Secretary Home Department Dr. Ahmed Javed Qazi said that youth and civil society have a vital role in promoting peace, tolerance, and harmony in society. He added that the Center of Excellence is actively engaging all stakeholders to counter extremism effectively.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Information Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani, Secretary Law Asif Bilal Lodhi, Chief Coordination Officer COE-CVE Ghulam Saghir Shahid, Vice Chancellor Government College University Lahore Professor Muhammad Umar Chaudhry, AIG Rizwan Umar Gondal, DIG CTD, Special Secretary school Education Muhammad Iqbal, DG Auqaf Shahid Hassan Kalyani, Executive Director Punjab Institute of Mental Health Professor Ayesha Rashid, Professor Ali Madih Hashmi, Additional Secretary Higher Education Aftab Ahmed Khan, Additional Secretary Finance Ghulam Hassan, Deputy Coordination Officer Dr. Ahmed Khawar Shahzad, consultant Sohail Raza and other officials. Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Professor Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan also participated, while the chairman attended via video link.