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Baba Farid, Guru Nanak spread peace, humanity, tolerance: Governor
Baba Farid, Guru Nanak spread peace, humanity, tolerance: Governor


LAHORE: (Wednesday, December 11, 2019): Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said that Baba Fareed and Baba Guru Nanak have spread message of peace, humanity and tolerance and we need to promote their teachings for establishing harmony in the world. He was addressing the inaugural session of Baba Fareed, Guru Nanak International Conference organized by Punjab University Department of Punjabi here on Wednesday. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad, PHEC Chairman Dr Fazal Khalid, Pro VC Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Head of Garanthi Sri Nankana Sahab Mr Giyani Dia Singh, Principal Oriental College Prof Dr Syed Muhammad Qamar Ali, Chairperson PU Department of Punjabi Prof Dr Nabeela Rehman, faculty members, students and a large scholars from country and abroad were present on the occasion. Addressing the conference, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said that the countries facing terrorism, extremism and culture of intolerance could not prosper. Therefore, he said, Pakistan government was curbing these challenges for development of country. He said that we were providing minorities with their due rights and they had complete religious freedom. He said that even having extremely sore relations with India, as she had changed status of Occupied Kashmir and imposed curfew in the area, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to open Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh community on the eve of 550th birthday of Baba Guru Nanak and he fulfilled his promise. He said that Sikh community was standing shoulder to shoulder with Pakistani in foreign countries to protest against atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir. He said that if we followed the teachings of Hazrat Muhammad SAWW, Sufis and Baba Guru Nanak, all our quarrels would come to an end. However, he said, we did not learn any lesson from history. He said that the Muslims ruled the world as long as they were knowledgeable and they fell when they distanced themselves from knowledge. Mr Sarwar said that we must make collective efforts to promote Punjabi language. He said that the enjoyment Punjabi language had, was not in any other language. He said that PU would be made role model to promote Punjabi language and other universities would follow it. He said that the government was establishing Aab-e-Pak Authority and the person who would be found involved in installing substandard water filtration plant would be sentenced to two years imprisonment. He said that Sikhs were generous and they were also helping us in various segments of life. He said that a Sikh philanthropist had donated water filtration plant, food machinery and donated Rs 25 million to Baba Guru Nanak chair. He appreciated PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad on establishing Baba Guru Nanak Chair. He said that a Punjabi festival would be organized at Governor’s house to promote Punjabi culture and traditions. He said that there was zero political interference in the universities and university matters were being dealt totally on merit. He said that the government would extend full support to universities and we want to bring our universities among top 500 universities in the world. Addressing the conference, PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad thanked the governor for supporting universities in Punjab. He said that PU was the only university in Pakistan which had established Baba Guru Nanak Chair. He said that Punjab Governor was focusing on ensuring good governance, quality education and research at campuses. He said that it was the responsibility of the universities to improve international ranking as per the vision of the governor. He said that PU had ensured transparency, merit and rule of law and we had recently recruited Sikh and Christian officers. Dr Nabila Rehman said that participants from various countries would present research papers on the teachings of Baba Fareed and Baba Guru Nanak. He said that their teachings had left positive effects on our lives. He demanded the government make Punjabi language compulsory till primary classes and the seats of Punjabi language teachers at colleges may not be converted.