March 5, 2018: The sixth radio program as part of Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on the topic of “Social Cohesion and Future Leaders.”
The program – broadcast on February 09, 2018 – discussed the importance of social cohesion for addressing several contemporary issues facing the Pakistani society and the role of youth in dealing with these issues.
The guests on show, Mr. Nangyal Khan, student of IM Sciences, Peshawar and Ms. Shanzae from City University, Peshawar underscored that youth is the future of a nation and it’s high time – given that youth constitutes over 60% of the total population of Pakistan – to cultivate and involve them in democratic values and processes to become agents of social cohesion. They emphasized that the dream of a socially cohesive society could come true once the youth realized their role to move ahead as one cohesive force.
Mr. Nangyal Khan said Ulasi Taroon was direly needed to foster linkages between people and bring them together as human beings. It can develop such social connections which are critical for peaceful co-existence in a diverse society. Sensitizing the young population on the core constitutional values of respect, tolerance, and equality can greatly influence their attitudes positively. Youth’s ignorance of these ideals makes them vulnerable to the push and pull factors of radicalization. Besides, we also need to bring critical thinking skills to youth and the universities should encourage them to ask questions.
Ms. Shanzae appreciated the capacity building workshops conducted by CRSS as part of Ulasi Taroon initiative and said that such interactions among diverse groups of students could create a critical mass of youth capable of countering and preventing a wide range of issues and lead peaceful conflict resolution. The educational institutions must also consider providing similar opportunities to the students. Youth can play a major role in social cohesion by becoming message multipliers.
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 and FATA in the core values of 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.