BY: FT Correspondent:
LAHORE — Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council and Prime Minister’s Coordinator on the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said the Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE) will hold an important meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss issues facing Madaris across Pakistan.
Addressing an annual prize-distribution ceremony organized by Nizam-ul-Madaris Pakistan, Ashrafi said significant progress was expected on issues including registration of seminaries, bank accounts and other administrative matters.
He said Pakistan has around 33,000 Madaris, of which 22,000 have been registered with the DGRE. He added that the country has 15 recognized religious education boards, with 10 already registered with the directorate.
Ashrafi said there was no objection to seminaries that wished to continue registration under the previous system. He highlighted the contribution of Madaris in providing students with both religious and contemporary education.
He said the success of Madaris students in securing positions in various educational boards reflected their growing contribution to education and national development.
Ashrafi said the Mutahida Madaris Council remained committed to resolving the sector’s longstanding issues and appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in facilitating solutions.
He added that Madaris were playing an important role in promoting peace, tolerance, interfaith and intra-faith harmony and standing against extremism and terrorism.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of Ulema, Mashaikh and Shuyukh from Pakistan and abroad to honour students who secured prominent positions in their examinations.
