Karachi (HRNW)-The Department of Sociology of the University of Karachi in collaboration with the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies of the University of Peshawar and Sustainable Peace and Development Organization arranged a seminar entitled ‘mapping peace profession and professionals’ at the KU’s Audiovisual Centre on Tuesday.
Professor Dr Sikandar Mehdi, the KU’s former chairperson at the Department of International Relations, stated that the world is currently discussing a subject and ideology that neither our country nor the world at large needs. According to him, the global system has entered a new dark era where a rules-based international community has practically collapsed.
Dr Sikandar Mehdi emphasized that global politics today is driven by power, aggression, and rulers’ personal ambitions, resulting in severe international economic bloodshed. He noted that countries are openly threatened with occupation of their lands, all under the guise of international relations.
Referring to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement, Dr Mehdi stated that Trump quoted that he wants Denmark, because it is necessary for their security. Dr Mehdi mentioned that this statement reflects the dangerous reality of the current global order. He questioned how the world can progress under such a system.
He added that under the present circumstances, peace studies itself faces a serious challenge. He observed that despite decades of research, dialogue, and study, the world has reached a point where governments are forcibly overthrown, states are turned into client regimes through sheer power, and tragic events such as genocide in Gaza have occurred.
According to him, more than 71,000 people in Gaza, including women and children, have lost their lives due to hunger and violence, and the world has failed to stop this massacre. He stressed that this failure is not only of the Muslim world but of the entire international community.
He further said that the prevailing narrative suggests that more security, weapons, and advanced technology are needed to address these challenges, whereas the true role of peace studies should be to examine how states are responding to this global crisis.
The KU’s Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said peace is not a simple slogan but a complex process requiring continuous effort, serious commitment, and broad participation.
“Dialogue is a fundamental condition for resolving conflicts, and effective communication is indispensable. Communication must be two-way; one-sided communication often leads to misunderstandings and the breakdown of relations.”
He stressed that structured, professional, and systematic approaches are essential for effective dialogue and communication. He observed that if untrained individuals intervene in conflict resolution, problems may worsen instead of being solved.
The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi highlighted lessons from Europe, citing the reunification of Germany after its division as a successful example of conflict resolution. Initially, many doubted the durability of German unity, but practical measures, problem-solving, intellectual insight, and mutual trust made it successful. He reiterated that trust in negotiations is crucial, as effective negotiations are the foundation of lasting peace.
Another speaker, the Director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Peshawar, Professor Jameel Ahmed Chitrali said that human history shows conflicts can be transformed positively, and differences can become a source of progress.
He compared western and eastern societies, noting that in the west, individuals are accountable to the state, while in the east, individuals are primarily accountable to their families, with the state playing a secondary role. True peace, he said, comes when trust exists between individuals and systems, forming the basis of societal stability and development.
The Founder Chairperson of Pakistan Women Foundation for Peace Nargis Rahman said moral values are a fundamental part of Islam. She emphasized that Islam commands justice for all without discrimination and the establishment of balance and harmony in society.
She added that peace is not a business but a complete way of life in which every member of society must participate equally. She pointed out that ongoing global conflicts highlight the failure of the United Nations to achieve its founding objectives.
The KU’s Chairperson of the Department of Sociology Professor Dr Nabeel Ahmed Zuberi said sociology, as an academic discipline, deeply studies social structures, conflict, inequality, and social change, providing a strong intellectual foundation for understanding peace as both a profession and a social process.
He added that peace has now become a recognized profession requiring specialized knowledge, skills, ethical commitment, and practical experience. He added that from conflict analysis and mediation to peace education and community reconciliation, peace professionals, both men and women, have played a transformative role in building stable and just societies at local, national, and international levels.
Dr Zuberi also emphasized that higher education institutions play a key role in shaping peaceful societies by producing critical thinkers, informed teachers, and responsible researchers who contribute to peace, social harmony, and sustainable development.
