FAISALABAD, Pakistan: The State Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Muhammad Baligh-Ur-Rehman on Saturday said that the federal had decided to declare Quran education compulsory in all public and private schools, and a law in this regard would be enacted very soon by the Parliament.
While addressing the annual prize distribution ceremony at Jamia Salfia Hajiabad in Faisalabad, he said that the federal government had already sanctioned declaring Quran education compulsory, and it believed that all federating units would support the bill which would be moved soon in the parliament.
The minister said that the Quran reading would be compulsory from class one to six, and from class 7 to intermediate, the holy book education with its translation would be mandatory.
Baligh-Ur-Rehman said that this fundamental step would pave the way to transform the younger generation into a true Islamic-minded generation. It would also help Pakistan to produce true Muslims, which would have capability to lead the Islamic world, he added.
Baligh-ur-Rehman said that development, solidarity, progress and prosperity of Pakistan is dependent on our youth and in this connection students would have to play a pivotal role in materializing this cherished objective.
The state minister said that the government had taken extraordinary steps for promotion of education which would lead Pakistan towards a prosperous future.
Baligh eulogized the role of religious schools and said that they have produced well-educated, skilled and Islamic-minded people, and now they are to introduce research-based system to prepare younger generation on modern scientific lines. It will also help them compete with the international community, he added.
The Principal Jamia Salfia Chaudhry Yaseen Zafar briefly introduced this religious school and told that its entire administrative and educational departments have been upgraded.
Later, the state minister also distributed shields and cash prizes among top position-holders.