ISLAMABAD: A journalistic forum, known as the Tolerant Pakistan Media Networl(, was launched on Tuesday to promote open-minded and respectful debate.

PML-N MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, who launched the forum, called it the first of its kind to empower journalists, proactively foster greater understanding, tolerance and mutual respect within Pakistani society and abroad.

`The forum brings together Pakistani journalists, who join hands to promote tolerance, harmony and peace through their writing, reporting, TV shows and blogs,` Dr Vanl(wani said.

Elaborating on its importance, speakers hoped the forum would envision Pakistani society free of religious, racial or ethnic oppression, a democratic society in line with Quaidi-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah`s Aug 11, 1947, speech.

`Being a parliamentarian, columnist and philanthropist, my dream is to mobilise media to promote tolerance, harmony and peace in Pakistani soci-ety,` he said.

Speakers also tool( turns deliberating over the causes of intolerance in society, and mainly blamed the media damaging the self esteem of the youth.

Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said teachers, including himself, had failed to prepare a tolerant youth.

`Teachers may have produced good students, but have failed to train and groom society to become good human beings,` Dr Ahmed said.

Fouzia Saeed, the executive director of Lok Virsa, argued that creativity and pluralism needed to be revived for a more tolerant society. She said: `All is not lost. There is yearning for change,especiallyintheyoungergeneration, for harmony and peace.

According to journalist Matiullah Jan, standards and a benchmark had to be set for journalists to follow ethical practices.

`The Pakistani is probably the most tolerant, which has tolerated military dictators and corrupt politics for the last 70 years,` he said.

The European Union ambassadorto France, Jean François Cautain, also told guests at the launch how the EU evolved into one of the most tolerant regions in the world.

`It is part of our DNA to support freedom of expression and religion.

There have been attacks on the values that make up the EU society, but strict implementation of law ensure that freedom of expression and religion are protected,` Mr Cautain said, asking parliamentarians and a trained media to act responsibly while grooming future generations of Pakistanis.

He believed that training should begin at school, where children are taught to embrace all the living creatures and religions of the world.

A guest speaker at the launch, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousaf believed that respect for all religions and ethnicities in the country was long overdue.

`It is imperative that we change our behaviour in a country where all are equal, despite the diverse ethnicities and religious beliefs,` he said. Staff Reporter