Pakistani region has centuries old strong bonds of friendship with Afghanistan

Lahore: The Pakistani region has centuries old strong bonds of friendship and fraternity with the people of Afghanistan. The people of both the countries are entwined in socio-cultural norms; the researchers as well as the academia, therefore, have great responsibility to promote these historic bonds with their research-work to forge ahead in the geo-strategic world of 21st century.

This was the gist of speeches rendered by the academicians at the book launching ceremony of ‘Aghosh Qabar’- Persian translation of ‘Qabar Ke Aghosh’ authored by Chairman Punjab Education Foundation Raja Anwar at Al-Raazi Hall of Punjab University on Thursday. PU VC Dr. Mujahid Kamran presided over the function which was largely attended by students, PU faculty members and the general public.

PU VC said that this book will help to understand the socio-cultural values of multi-ethnic society of Afghanistan. He asked the students to turn to reading books adding that books broaden mental horizon and 21st century requires hard work and a well-designed culture of research. The foundation of U.S. global hegemony lies in its strong culture of research and innovation, he added. Referring to the culture of academic research promoted in the PU in recent years, he said that besides producing record number of Ph.D.s, the university has also published hundred books on different topics of importance during the last year alone.

PEF Chairman Raja Anwar stressed the need of promoting cultural bonds of affection between Pakistan and other countries in the immediate periphery and said that this book has been authored to give an insight into the circumstances in which he languished the miseries of life in dreaded Pule Charkhi Jail in 1980s.

Besides Prof. Salim Mazhar and Dr. Nasir who made the Persian translation, the ceremony was also addressed by Dr. Moeen Nizami, Fakhar ul Haq Noori, Prof. Salim Shah and Syed Akram Shah. The speakers also stressed the need for exchange of visits of literary figures, intellectuals and writers to further cement our bilateral relations. They pointed out that Persian language has influenced and formed the basis for many of our native languages and has also
influenced Urdu.