WSF gets under way in Pak; thrust on non-proliferation in region

Karachi, March 24 (UNI) A six-day World Social Forum (WSF) began in here today to discuss ways to ''rethink and recreate globalisation'' and focus on among others, the nuclear non-proliferation and various problems confronting South Asia.

Over 20,000 delegates from some 58 countries including India are attending the forum, which is to discuss a wide range of issues including Pakistan-India peace process.

Plenary sessions at the forum will also focus on small arms and light weapon proliferation, militancy and violence, impact of September 11 on global societies, regional and local forces, political victimisation, terrorism and sectarian violence, water issue, food sovereignty, violence against women and children, their trafficking and sexual exploitation in different regions especially in the sub-continent.

The inaugural ceremony began at least three hours late than its scheduled time -- 8.45 pm local time and was still continuing.

Held at a local stadium, bedecked with slogans -- Peace for happiness and prosperity; We want nuclear free South Asia; People desire for peace, harmony and food and not arms -- the inaugural ceremony was attended by more than 10,000 people.

Experts usually discuss wide range of issues confronting the world at the forum's yet this time around it has been decided to keep the focus on topics that are in relevance to South Asia.

This is the sixth meeting of the WSF, which came into being five years ago. Formed by community organisers, trade unionists, young people and academicians, it met every year at Porto Alegre, Brazil except for 2004, when its meeting took place in Mumbai.

Separatist Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik is already in Karachi and attended the ceremony while All Party Hurriyat Conference leader Mir Waiz Umar Farooq is due in the port city tomorrow.

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