LAHORE: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar has said Baba Fareed and Baba Guru Nanak have spread the message of peace, humanity and tolerance in their teachings for establishing harmony in the world.

He was addressing the inaugural session of `Baba Fareed, Guru NanakInternationalConference` organised by the Punjab University`s Punjabi department here on Wednesday.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad, Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Dr Fazal Khalid, Pro VC Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Head of Garanthi Sri Nankana Sahab Mr Giyani DiaSingh, Oriental College Principal Prof Dr Syed Muhammad Qamar Ali, PU Department of Punjabi Chairperson Prof Dr Nabeela Rehman, faculty members, students and a large number of local and foreign scholars were present.

Mr Sarwar said the government was curbing extremism and culture of intolerance as these menaces hindered development of the country.

He said the government was ensuring that minorities got their due rights and enjoyed complete religious f reedom.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan announced opening of Kartarpur Corridor for the Sikh community on 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanakdespite having tension with India af ter the status of occupied Kashmir was changed and curfew imposed there.

He said the Sikh community was standing shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistanis protesting in various countries against the atrocities being committed in India held Kashmir.

Mr Sarwar said collective efforts should be made to promote the Punjabi language. He said the PU would be made a role model to promote the Punjabi language and other universities would follow it.

He said the government was establishing Aab-e-Pak Authority and warned that the person found involved in installing substandard water filtration plants would be handed downtwo-year imprisonment.

Appreciating the Sikh community`s generosity, he said a Sikh philanthropist had donated a water filtration plant, food machinery and Rs25 million to Baba Guru Nanak chair.

He said a festival would be organised to promote the Punjab`s culture and traditions, adding there was no political interference in the universities where issues were being dealt with on merit.

PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad said Baba Guru Nanak Chair was established in the university to promote religious harmony.

He said the government was focusing on ensuring good governance, quality education and research on campuses and it was the responsibility of the universi-ties to improve their international ranking as per the vision of the governor.

He said the PU had ensured transparency, merit and rule of law and `we had recently recruited Sikh and Christian of ficers as well`.

Dr Nabila Rehman said the participants from various countries would present their research papers on the teachings of Baba Fareed and Baba Guru Nanak during the conference.

SEMINAR: Speakers at a seminar stressed the need for assigning the students the role of peacemakers to raise awareness on peace, tolerance, acceptance, diversity and harmony.

The seminar was organised by the Punjab University College of Earth andEnvironmental Sciences, in collaboration with Centre for Health and Gender Equality at the Al Raazi Hall.

MPA Mussarat Jamshaid Cheema, Dr Sughra Sadaf, PTI`s Jamshaid Iqbal Cheema, media analyst Salman Abid, Registrar Dr Muhammad Khalid Khan, CEES Principal Prof Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmad, faculty members and a large number of students participated in the event.

Prof Rashid said the role of students was essential in peace building and recalled various p ast interventions that imp acte d the young people in society.

He stressed that young people needed to be active citizens so that their energies could be channelised.