August 1, 2018: The 20th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on May 25, 2018, on the topic of “Responsible Citizenship and Volunteerism”.
The first guest one on show, Dr. Tariq, a social activist said that volunteerism plays a critical role in the socio-political and economic progress of a society. Responsible citizenship means abiding by laws; it’s the spirit to be of service to others with the objective of transforming the society into a peaceful place to live.
The second guest on show, Dr. Ejaz Ali Khan, the founder of Hamza Foundation, Peshawar (a volunteer organization for blood donation) emphasized that the drive for volunteer activities gets an impetus only after the people realize the importance of their social and national responsibilities. Media’s role in this regard is critical; both media and civil society organizations are already engaged in raising awareness, however the religious leaders and religious scholars can further promote the idea of volunteerism for social cohesion.
The third guest on show, Ms. Shanzae from City University, Peshawar, said that educational institutions must promote social awareness along with academic excellence of the students to foster responsible citizenship and volunteerism. She further added that the role of the family and positive parenthood is the first step towards responsible citizenship and to help progress the society.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of fostering social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.