A keynote address on “Preventing Violent Extremism in Pakistan” was delivered by Mr. Azim Arshad for the participants of 45th MCMC at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Lahore. The Guest Speaker emphasized that violent extremism is a complex phenomenon that cannot be countered through security measures alone and requires a coordinated, whole-of-state approach involving multiple institutions.

During the address, the speaker discussed key drivers of violent extremism, including misuse of religion, socio-economic inequalities, unemployment, lack of education, and social injustice. He underscored the importance of transparency in resource distribution, community-led PVE initiatives, and the role of women and youth as agents of positive change. The discussion also covered Pakistan’s counter-terrorism and PVE framework, including the National Action Plan (NAP) 2021, while stressing the need for a strong state narrative, effective communication strategy, and inclusive governance for long-term peace.

The session concluded with a regulated question-and-answer segment, where participants actively engaged with the guest speaker on issues related to policy continuity, radicalization within institutions, local ownership in counter-terrorism efforts, Western PVE frameworks, and challenges in Balochistan. The Guest Speaker responded by emphasizing bottom-up policymaking, stakeholder engagement, and equal application of justice and human rights.