Amid news about tensions among varied groups in the country, what is forgotten is how there are hundreds of examples of peaceful co-existence among those same groups. Attempts should be made to showcase those examples more often.
These thoughts in “Pakistan Saga and Narratives” award ceremony, in which inspiring video reports, celebrating unsung heroes, peaceful messages, and shared responsibilities were displayed. The ceremony was organized by Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) is an Islamabad-based think-tank focusing on security and conflict issues.
Zargoon Shah, a journalist with Geo TV, won the Pakistan Saga Award 2016
The ceremony was marked to celebrate the work of Pakistan Saga, the country’s first video portal dedicated to promoting harmony. The portal is meant to create awareness and critical thinking among people and policy makers. Saga’s mission statements call for reflecting positive stories.
For a period of one year, video packages, of around 3-4 minutes, on themes like countering violent extremism and social harmony were produced and successfully disseminated on social media. Around 90 videos, as diverse as tracing the roots of Buddhism in Gilgit-Baltisan to the adjacent presence of religiously-diverse communities, have been produced by Pakistan Saga.
Germany’s ambassador to Pakistan, Ana Lepel, who inaugurated the English version of the portal, appreciated the effort of Pakistan Saga, saying, in her own tours across Pakistan, she has come to know how diverse the country is.
Narratives Award 2016, was bestowed upon Maimoona Saeed from Multan, one of the first female field journalist in southern Punjab
Meanwhile, Barrister Zafarullah Khan, advisor to prime minister on law, justice and parliamentary affairs, in his thoughtful commentary, appreciate the efforts of building narratives of co-existence. Even the best of civilizations of their times have been reduced to rubbles, he commented, arguing that the survival lies in living with the times.
Dr. Farhan Zahid won the Narrative Award for Non-Fiction in Peace and Conflict
The ceremony celebrated three awards: Zargoon Shah, a journalist with Geo TV, won the Pakistan Saga Award 2016 for his report on a young man, fond of learning, but was forced to pick garbage; another award, Narratives Award 2016, was bestowed upon Maimoona Saeed from Multan, one of the first female field journalist in southern Punjab; Dr. Farhan Zahid won the Narrative Award for Non-Fiction in Peace and Conflict, for his consistent contribution in the field of security affairs.
