The Policy Dialogue Forum at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi hosted a seminar on Role of Youth in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) on Monday, January 19, 2026, drawing students, faculty, deans and directors to discuss practical steps for peacebuilding and resilience in the digital era.
Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Vice Chancellor of PMAS-AAUR and Patron-in-Chief of the forum, welcomed guests and underlined the university’s collaborative environment where administration and faculty plan initiatives that position students as ambassadors of harmony and progress for Pakistan.
Dr. Ahmad Khawar Shahzad, DCO of the Punjab Centre of Excellence on CVE and the seminar’s chief guest, commended the discipline and enthusiasm of PMAS-AAUR students. He highlighted institutional advances such as the Centre of Precision Agriculture, the Pak-China Research Center for Water Efficient Technologies and the National Center of Industrial Biotechnology as examples of academic and technological progress that can be harnessed to counter violent narratives. Dr. Shahzad urged students to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and to channel their skills toward building a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.
Dr. Robina of the National Institute of Psychology Islamabad and Dr. Nimrah Ishfaq, national expert on de-radicalization, examined the psychological and social challenges facing youth online and outlined strategies to strengthen mental resilience against extremist messaging. Their remarks emphasized evidence-based interventions, media literacy and community engagement as core components of effective CVE efforts.
The event was coordinated by Prof. Dr. Ghulam Hussain Babar, Principal Officer Student Affairs, who stressed inclusiveness, optimism and resilience among students, encouraging them to take pride in Pakistan’s history while rejecting negativity and pessimism as obstacles to social cohesion.
Throughout the seminar speakers returned to practical themes: empowering youth through skills and entrepreneurship, reinforcing community ties, and equipping students to spot and resist radical narratives online. The discussion reflected the local relevance of CVE work in Rawalpindi and across Punjab, linking campus initiatives to broader peacebuilding goals.
The session closed with an engaged question-and-answer period, demonstrating strong student interest in contributing to counter-extremism initiatives and in applying an entrepreneurial, community-focused approach to promoting stability and positive national image.
Read in Urdu: طلبہ کو کاروباری ذہنیت اپنانی چاہیے۔ ڈاکٹر احمد خاور شہزاد، ڈی سی او، پنجاب سنٹر آف ایکسیلینس آن سی وی ای
