Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, attended a Vice Chancellors’ Conference in Lahore organized by the Punjab Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism to align academia with national security priorities. Provincial Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique served as the chief guest at the event, which brought together leaders of public and private universities to discuss coordinated responses.
The gathering focused on synchronizing higher education efforts with the Revised National Action Plan, placing Countering Violent Extremism at the centre of campus policy and research agendas. Vice chancellors explored ways universities can serve as a frontline defence against online radicalization and hate speech by promoting critical thinking and resilient campus cultures.
Plans discussed include dedicated research fellowships and socio-economic mainstreaming initiatives to address the root causes of extremism. Participants emphasized the need for interdisciplinary studies and evidence-based programmes that connect academic inquiry with community outreach and student support systems.
Chairman HEC highlighted the importance of narrative building and social cohesion, urging institutions to establish robust information networks and specialized training modules. He said that Countering Violent Extremism requires collaboration among university administrations, faculty, civil society and government stakeholders to effectively empower youth.
Speakers stressed that campuses must remain spaces of harmony and critical thought, where early signals of online radicalization can be identified and addressed through preventive measures rather than punitive responses. The conference set a cooperative agenda for higher education to advance the Revised National Action Plan through research, training and socio-economic pathways.
