The 31st International Conference on Peace & Literature, organized by World Punjabi Congress, concluded on Friday.
World Punjabi Congress (WPC) Chairman Fakhar Zaman reiterated the need for consistent efforts for the promotion of peace and its promotion via literature. He promised that such successful conferences will go on.
Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, WPC President of the India Chapter said that the conference was very successful and the credit goes to Fakhar Zaman, for his tireless efforts in organizing the conference.
During the conference, many topics related to the role of literature in the promotion of peace were discussed.
The declaration committee comprising of Fakhar Zaman, Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, Dr Abdal Bela and Sehajpreet Mangat issued the following 7 points Lahore Declaration on the last day of the conference;
1. We the participants of the conference organized by the World Punjabi Congress willingly approve that both the countries, India & Pakistan, should officially celebrate the three hundredth anniversary of saint Baba Waris Shah.
2. It was decided and formally announced that both countries, India & Pakistan, should grant an arrival visa on entry points, we demand both the governments to implement this decision as soon as possible.
3. Punjabi should be adapted as a medium of education at the primary level in schools as applied by Sindh, KPK and Balochistan in their schools.
4. World Punjabi Congress welcomes the opening of the Kartarpur corridor and believes that Kartarpur Corridor will be the milestone of the peace process in South Asia.
5. World Punjabi Congress demands both the countries to promote the basic teachings and practices of Punjab Sufis and Saints.
6. The World Punjabi Congress welcomes the construction of Baba Guru Nanak University in Nankana Sahib and demands that work should be expedited and universities should start as soon as possible.
7. Both countries should promote book culture, and appropriate funds should be allocated in both Punjabs, specifically in public libraries.