Identify Culture As A Contributor Towards Extremism

Be it marriage customs, the issue of women rights or even adherence to the principle of merit; for most part, sub-continent’s cultural practices are neither compatible with the religion of Islam nor with the ideologies practiced in the west. Hence, the outdated and the intolerant local culture for sure, alienates the people of the region from rest of the world and plays a pivotal role in contributing towards extremism.

So, at the government and citizen levels and as a first step, it is important for Pakistan to accept the problem and identify those local customs that agree with violence as a way of life.

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Use Innovative Methods To Educate The Masses

As a next step Pakistan needs to think outside the box and utilize media in all its forms including print, electronic and social media to educate masses on what is wrong with certain social practices and why and how they can no longer be accepted. Similarly, it is also imperative to preach how a given norm is playing a massive part in giving rise to extremism and why it is effecting lives both at individual and societal levels.

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Challenging World Views

Finally, Pakistan needs to work towards challenging world views by educating and raising awareness at a local level regarding pressing cultural issues in a manner where masses are able to comprehend and recognize how certain unwanted norms neither conform with the ideology of Islam nor with the secular schools of thought. This should eventually, help in shredding extremist ideas while making way for a more progressive mindset of the people residing in the country.