Modern Education in Pakistan’s Religious Seminaries
'Pakistan Times' Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs, Zakat and Usher Ijazul Haq said on Friday that the modern education along with religious education would be introduced in religious seminaries in the country.

He was speaking with journalists after a ceremony organised at the office of International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) and Muslim World League for distribution of financial assistance to orphanages.

“All the five Tanzeemat of Madaris will be given the status of Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education so that they can conduct examinations independently”, Ijazul Haq said.

To a question he said that the Ministry has received a positive response from religious seminaries and on registration process, the process of introduction of modern education in seminaries will be completed amicably.

Earlier addressing the participants, he said there are over 17000 religious seminaries in the country with over 2 million students.

He said it was need of the hour to provide modern educational facilities to these students.

Ijazul Haq said that Muslims should concentrate on modern scientific education to recapture the lost glory.

Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Saeed Awadh Asseri said some Saudi organisations like Islamic Relief were doing humanitarian work in Pakistan.He said IIRO has allocated Rs 23,650,535 for distribution among the orphans in Paksitan.

He said that this work reflects Saudi masses true love for Pakistani brethern.”Saudi people share the pain,loss and agony of the brothers from Pakistan”,he added.

The organizations which were given assistance include Saudi Red Crescent School,Peshawar (Rs 10,463,110),Al-Markaz Al-Islami,Bannu (Rs 426,222),Jamia Dar-e-Uloom Baltistan (Rs 4,434,821),Siratul Jinnah, Murree (Rs 3,219,212),Tahir Welfare Centre (Rs 2,310,195),Anjuman Faizul Islam, Rawalpindi (Rs 1,824,757) and SOS Villages (Rs 23,650,535).●