Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday commended the efforts of Pakistan's religious seminaries for promotion of Islamic teachings.
In a meeting with a delegation of Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris, the premier said that the government would extend its maximum support to the seminaries to help them impart education in accordance with modern-day needs.
He also assured them for providing maximum administrative autonomy to the seminaries and easing their registration process.
Lauding the services of the seminaries for religious education, PM Shehbaz said that around five million students were studying there free of charge.
He said that the seminaries also teach the students to memorise the Holy Quran besides playing their active role to protect Pakistan’s interests.
"Half of the students enrolled in seminaries were girls and thousands of them are orphans," the premier noted, adding that these students are also getting free books and education.
Calling the seminaries Islamic or Pakistani NGOs, PM Shehbaz said that the government desired to extend its support to them in their social services.
He also expressed condolence over the death of renowned religious scholar Mufti Rafi Usmani and said that not only Pakistan, but the whole Muslim world recognised his services to the religion.
The meeting was attended by President of Jamiat Ulema Islam-F Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maulana Mufti Taqi Usmani, Maulana Muhamamd Hanif Jalandhri, Mufti Munibur Rehman, Sahibzada Abdul Mustafa Hazarvi, Senator Professor Sajid Mir, Maulana Abdul Malik, Maulana Afzal Haidri, Maulana Abdul Kabir Azad and Maulana Fazal Rahim.
Federal cabinet members including Rana Tanvir Hussain, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Mufti Abdul Shakoor, PM's Special Assistant Fahad Hussain and senior officers were also present on the occasion.
