Protect others’ rights to establish world peace : Portuguese Ambassador

Lahore : Portuguese Ambassador Dr. Joao Paulo Sabido Costa has said that we must take care of others’ rights irrespective of color, caste, religion and language in order to establish peace in the world.

He was addressing a seminar in connection with international human rights day organized by Faculty of Oriental Learning at Al Raazi Hall here on Wednesday. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir, Honorary Consul Portugal Iftikhar Firoz, Dean Faculty of Oriental Learning Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Director External Linkages Dr Fouzia Hadi Ali, Assistant Prof Dr Aman Ullah Malik, faculty members and students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Costa appreciated Pakistan’s role in providing shelter to Afghan refugees and lauded PU in creating awareness about the problems being faced by refugees in Pakistan.

He said that people used to migrate to other countries because of political, economical disabilities and other reasons.  He said that refugees throughout the world including Europe were facing serious problems while the steps taken by Pakistan to provide facilities to refugees were commendable.

He said that PU students were intelligent, full of creative skills and we were proud to have relations with the oldest university of Pakistan.

PU VC Dr Zafar Moeen Nasir said that the problems of refugees were increasing and United Nations must play its role in reducing the issues. He said that we must make efforts to help refugees to return to their normal life because Islam taught the lesson of serving the mankind. Dean Faculty of Oriental Learning Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar said that Portugal was the first in European countries which recognized Pakistan after independence.

He said that Pakistan was the second country after Turkey which had facilitated refugees on such a large scale. He said that universities also played their role in promotion of academic and cultural relations among the nations.

Dr Amanullah Malik said that the problems of refugees started after World War I and World War II and a large number of Muslim countries were struggling with this issue.

He said that UN was playing its role in promotion of human rights. In the ceremony, a documentary was also screened reflecting various issues of human rights.