LAHORE: (Friday, May 5, 2017): Punjab University Institute of Social and Cultural Studies has launched a comprehensive project to promote narrative of tolerance among students under the title “Let tolerance be our virtue”. In this regard, a seminar was held at Institute of Social and Cultural Studies in which PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir, Dean Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences Prof Dr Zakria Zakir, Associate Professor Dr Rubeena Zakir, faculty members and a large number of student were present on the occasion. The tolerance campaign has been launched to counter effects of hate speech through social media as Pakistan had faced many unfortunate incidents. Not only in Pakistan, people around the world witness this issue and often have been victim of hate speech amplified on the basis of religion, ethnicity, gender and cultural indifferences. To mitigate this issue, PU ISCS students, on the direction of Director Prof Dr Zakria Zakir, has launched social media campaign through Facebook page titled “Let tolerance be our virtue”. The team also aims at using other social media tools like twitter, whatsapp etc.

Addressing the seminar, PU VC Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir said that this was a noble cause and every student of PU must play its role in addressing disharmony in our society. He said that we must respect other’s thoughts and forgive others on their mistakes. Dr Zakria Zakir said that Institute of Social and Cultural Studies in collaboration with many government departments and private sector was playing its leading role in combating social evils. He said that we wanted Pakistan to be seen as violence free country. He said that we must take care of human as well as animal rights in our country. He said that ISCS students had been engaged in a number of positive activities and they were much active in solving social problems. On the occasion, Dr. Rubeena Zakar also inaugurated the campaign of ISCS students regarding their participation in International Competition of Peer to Peer Facebook Global Digital Challenge: Promoting Narrative of Tolerance among Students. Public at large is welcome to become part of this campaign which is intended to create a space for the alternative voices, preach and promote tolerance; and practice empathy and kindness. Ms. Mudassir Mustafa is the campaign coordinator who will be ably assisted by the team consisted of Izaz Hyder, Momina Iqbal, Nabiha Shahram, Uroosa Yousuf Zain-ul-Abidin, Zunaira Khalid, Dr. Anum Khursheed and Dr. Zeeshan Ali Shad.