The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) concluded a two-day Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop focused on “Advancing Inclusive and Resilient Youth Communities through Preventing Violent Extremism.”
Held on June 23–24, the event was organized in collaboration with the Paigham-e-Pakistan Center for Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction Studies at the Islamic Research Institute (IRI), International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), and supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), the European Union, and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme.
The workshop brought together youth leaders, faculty members, and student representatives for intensive training sessions designed to promote peace, civic responsibility, and critical thinking among young people. The modules, led by Dr Rustam Khan, Deputy Director and Project Manager at IRI, combined theory with interactive exercises including group work, scenario analysis, and personal storytelling to address key challenges like radicalization, digital misinformation, and social polarization.
The opening ceremony featured a keynote address by Prof Dr Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Director General of IRI, who highlighted the urgent need to develop responsible and resilient youth capable of navigating modern societal pressures through education, dialogue, and community engagement.
Prof Dr Imtiaz Awan, Director of the Jhelum Valley Campus (JVC) and focal person for the event, praised the collaborative spirit of the initiative and reiterated UAJK’s commitment to nurturing peace-oriented leadership across the region. He thanked the IRI and all partner organizations for their support in advancing youth empowerment efforts.
Senior faculty members, including Prof Dr Nazneen Habib, Dr Sharjil Saeed (DSA), and Dr Shahida Khaleeq, participated in the sessions and lauded the training’s relevance to the region’s socio-political context.
As part of its long-term impact, the workshop has produced a cohort of Master Trainers who will replicate the training across UAJK’s campuses, further spreading the message of tolerance, inclusivity, and community resilience.
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The event marks a significant step in UAJK’s ongoing mission to serve as a hub for youth development, national integration, and grassroots peacebuilding in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.