LAHORE: Speakers at a `Policy Dialogue on Migration and Displacement`international conference have stressed the need for immediate global efforts to deal with the challenge of migration.

The dialogue was chaired by Stockholm University, Sweden, Professor Emeritus Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, while Prof Dr Tahir Kamran, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences dean at the GCU and Prof Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt, the conference chairman, were also present.

Besides more than 51 social scientists from different local varsities, 11 foreign scholars, including Ms Angela Sarafian from Belgium, Ms Xiaoqing Xie and DrTang Jun from China, Dr Saodat Olimova and Prof Muzaffar Olimov from Tajikistan and Mr Mahesh Raj Bhatta from Nepal also participated in the dialogue.

Prof Ahmed said human history was full of migrations and events of displacement for several reasons which not only brought challenges for the migrants but also posed threats toinhabitants ofthe host states.

He said that after deliberating on research papers by the participants, the conference unanimously drafted 18 recommendations which would be sent to various academic institutions, thinktanks, heads of the states and international organisations to help them deal with this mega challenge more effectively.

`We recommend that pluralism so far as religious, ethnic,linguistic and cultural should be part of the state`s policy and there must be zero tolerance towards all kinds of extremism, he added.

The recommendations include that feeling of deprivation should be eradicated as it encourages migration. It also recommends promotion of education; non-interference in the affairs of the other states, especially by the world powers for peaceful coexistence, promotion of pluralism through university education and a robust system of political parties, besides family planning.

The policy dialogue reiterated the point of conference`s key note speaker, Prof Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, that most of the refugee problems were caused by the international politics;ambitious global agenda of major world powers.

Prof Khalid Butt said there was a dire need to change the mindsets of the people and that could only be achieved through education and socialisation.

He also stressed promotion of multiculturalism in Pakistan.

Prof Dr Tahir Kamran said countries which faced colonisation should not be compared with Western nations because of the difference in state structure, adding that `we have failed to ingrain in the youth the real essence of nationalism.

Ms Angela Sarafian said that in order to discourage economic migration to other parts of the world like Europe, international community needed to focus on development and co-operation.