LAHORE: (Friday, December 07, 2012): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has said that knowledge was power and no nation could be educated without strength of character. He said that the Muslims were being facing all challenges due to avoid promotion of education. He was expressing these views in a seminar on "Character Building of Youth for Future Leadership" in connection with the Anti-Corruption Week being observed from December 3 to 9, at Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) here on Friday. While Special Assistant to Chief Minister Zaeem Qadri, Dean Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Director ISCS Prof Dr Zakria Zakir DIG Punjab Police Naveed Elahi, faculty members and a large number of students were also present on the occasion.

Dr Mujahid Kamran said that the Muslims had been divided on the definition of characteristics and they should think about their beliefs. He said the Muslims had not realized that the over 700 verses of Holy Quran, which is 1/8th of the Holy Book, stressed to focus on the mysteries of the universe. He said that an Australian Jewish scientist Gideon Polya had written in his book “Body Count”, published in 2007, that there had been 1.3 billion avoidable deaths during the period 1950-2005 of which 600 million were Muslims and if we considered deaths during last ten years it would reach almost 700 million. He said that high aim with sincerity and continuous process was important to character building. He advised the students to pay attention to their studies with dedication and work hard for it. He said that with rotation somebody could get degree but not education. He urged the students to respect each other to make tolerated and calm based society. Special Assistant to CM Zaeem Qadri said that educated people have their own thoughts to run the system, it was essential to promote education to make society exemplary because today’s youth would be the leader in the future. He said to students that he was hoped they would not repeat mistakes which had happened in past. He said that in the past politicians had not taken steps towards character building and progress for youth.

He said that without participation of youth it was not possible to run state affairs. He urged the students to work for country’s prosperity for ten minutes daily so that we could be able to achieve Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal’s Pakistan which they have dreamt for. He said that Punjab Government was taking steps for progress and development of strong character among youth on emergency basis. He said that we were distributing laptops among shining students to ensure access of information on one click. He said that Punjab Government had started internships programme, giving preference in the field of agriculture etc that kind of examples had not been set before. He said that we were serving the nation by spending their own money on them. He said that educated parents and media could play an important role in character building of youth. Zakria Zakir said that thirty year based social science research have proved it that advises could not help the youth in character building and if could be so then the youth could have developed sense of character among them. He said that youth should be admired in every step of life. He said that we should take steps for restoration of human dignity to make society corruption free. Naveed Elahi said that our youth were very talented and Quaid-e-Azam was always relied on youth as a best tool for the progress of the country. He said that the youth should be guided to promote knowledge and that awanress could be created through seminars, media, drama etc. He said that a leader have ability to sense good and bad things.