LAHOR E: Speakers at a seminar on the `National Action Plan and its outcome` have said terrorism cannot be eradicated without fighting extremism.

Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha chaired the policy dialogue at the Government College University here on Monday.

It was organise d by Bargad, an NGO, in collaboration with the Punjab government to remember the martyrs of the APS Peshawar and review the implementation of the NAP.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashood, Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin, eminent rights activist I.A Rehman and noted writer Amir Riaz gave recommendations for the better implementation of the NAP.

LA Rehman said the NAP should not be made a final word and it must becontinuously reviewed and renewed according to the emerging needs.

He also highlighted the need for developing the nation`s counter narrative, saying `it is a war of minds and cannot be fought in battlefields alone.

He said the NAP was silent about curriculum reforms. `Terrorists have a narrative but unfortunately we do not have a national counter narrative,` he said, adding academicians must be involved in developing national counter narrative which should be propagated through education, media and artwork.

Writer Amir Riaz said: `Our textbooks are gender and urban bias and promote religious and communal sectarianism.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Shah said: `We need to fight for poverty alleviation, socio-economic justice and above all an education system which inculcates love for humanity for the success of NAP.

Rana Mashhood paid tribute to the victims of the APS attack and stressedthe importance of NAP`s implementation to ensure that Dec 16, 2014, was never repeated.

Later, the GCU students signed a `Peace Resolution` that reads that `We solemnly vow to stand up against violent extremism in Pakistan. We vow to never let Dec 19, 2014 be repeated. We condemn this heinous tragedy and extend our full support to the government`s efforts being made under the NA to avoid such atrocities in the future.

WALK: The Postgraduate Medical Institute and Amiruddin Medical College arranged on Monday a walk to pay tribute to the martyrs of Army Public School, Peshawar. The walk began from Birdwood Road and concluded at Shadman Chowk. The participants were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of the army.

They also condemned terrorism and reiterated that terrorists and their facilitators would find no place in Pakistan.