The Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS), University of the Punjab & Home Department, Government of the Punjab in collaboration with Punjab CVE Centre, Paghame-Pakistan, Centre for Peace, Reconciliation & Reconstruction Studies, and the Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad, organizaed a high-level Policy Dialogue on “Punjab Counter Violent Extremism Act 2025: Prospects & Challenges".
The event took place on October 3, 2025 at Darbar Hall, Governor House, Lahore. Dr. Ahmad Javaid Qazi, Home Secretary, Government of the Punjab was the Chief Guest of the Occassion. The keynote Speakers were Dr. Ahmad Khawar Shehzad, DCO Punjab CoE on CVE, Mr. Ahmer Bilal Sufi, Former Minister of Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights, Prof. Dr. Khalid Mehmood, Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab, Prof. Dr. Naheed S. Goraya, Director, Centre for South Asian Studies, University if the Punjab, Dr. Tahir Raza Bukhari Secretary, Government of the Punjab, Auqaf & Religious Affairs Department.
The speakers discussed about the Objectives of the Punjab Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Act-2025, International Perspective of Countering Violent Extremism, Role of Academia in Narrative Building with reference to CVE & Minber-o-Mehrab: Role of Ulema in Countering Violent Extremism.
Prof. Dr. Naheed S. Goraya, Director CSAS while talking on "Regional Perspective of Countering Violent Extremism" commended the government’s proactive establishment of the Punjab Center on CVE, as landmark initiative. She acknowledged the impact and initiatives of PAIGHAM E PAKISTAN which comprehensively created enabling environment for the creation of Punjab Center on CVE. Dr. Goraya highlighted that South Asia is grappled with religious and sectarian polarization, socio-economic inequalities, political and identity conflicts. While Corruption and limited justice further erode trust and eventually push the marginalized groups towards militancy. Dr. Goraya mentioned that BJP’s extremism has transformed India into a polarized, divided and violent society and underscored that India is no more a democracy. She emphasized that Violence divides communities but Counter-Extremism is a slow and gradual process. However, the diversified social communities of society should be involved in the process as stakeholders.
The event was attended by a large number of academic fraternity, civil society, lawyers, officers from CTD & members from Law Enforcement agencies.