Islamabad—The Chairman Senate Farooq H. Naek has urged the psychologists of the country to come forward and assist government and society for promotion of healthy and tolerant attitudes and for solving social problems.
“You should try to eliminate extremism and non tolerant behaviour from society. As healthy mind promotes healthy society, application of psychological knowledge to solve social issues has become all the more meaningful and relevant today,” Naek said while addressing as Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the 13th National Psychology Conference on the theme of ‘psychology need of the time’ at Islamic International University here Friday.
The two day conference has been organized jointly by Pakistan Psychological Association and International Islamic University. It has 8 scientific sessions and 50 research papers will be presented on wide ranging issues like extremism / disaster management, psychological assistance to people with disabilities and human resource management etc.
Chairman Senate appreciated the organizers for choosing a most pertinent theme which highlights importance of psychology in dealing with prevailing psychosomatic and social behavioural issues in the society. Naek added that social, political and economic injustices, human rights violation and other psycho-social stresses of daily life are major contributing factors behind all the major social disorders.
Naek said that in Pakistan, Psychological professionals are very few and there is a great need of psychologists to address the impacts of natural, man made and other disasters on the mind of the people through counseling and psychotherapeutic intervention.
He reiterated “the government of Pakistan is committed to provide better mental health facilities to the nation.
He asked the Pakistan Psychological Association to come up with comprehensive recommendations and submit strategy for guidance of the government for establishment of effective mental health services in Pakistan.
Chairman said, “Government must support Pakistan Psychological Association in addressing psycho-social issues in the country and suggested that government should induct psychologists in all fields of life and at every level and assured that he would forward necessary recommendations to Prime Minister of Pakistan.”
Chairman Naek also offered to arrange a consultation between HEC Chairman and PPA Chairman for making psychology a compulsory subject and it will help generating awareness at every level.
Earlier, Mr. Riaz Fatiana (MNA) as Chief Organizer in his welcome address announced holding of yearly annual psychology conference and biennial national conference of psychologists from every nook and corner of the country. He emphasized the need of legislative support for passage of a bill on formation of regulatory authority of psychologists that will act as regulator of psychologists professional practices and other relevant matters.
He asked the psychologists to provide support to people, government and its institutions and political parties in actualizing the theme of better mental health for healthy and progressive society.—INP