ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan and Egypt on Thursday underlined the need for enhancing their bilateral cooperation and working together to combat terrorism.
The understanding came in a meeting between the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yusuf and the Egyptian Ambassador to Pakistan Sherif Shaheen in Islamabad on Thursday.
During the meeting, the minister said that both Pakistan and Egypt can enhance their relationship through bilateral cooperation, adding that it would be beneficial for whole Muslim Ummah.
The religious minister urged that both Countries should strive to improve cooperation regarding fight against terrorism and to elevate the reputation of Islam.
Sardar Muhammad Yusuf said that we should focus on our youth. He said that the Pakistani government is providing budget and assistance to facilitate modern and religious education in Madressah to have next generation with healthy mind.
“With unity, Muslim Ummah can cope with challenges, facing presently specially terrorism,” the minister said.
The Egyptian ambassador said that both Pakistan and Egypt are facing same kind of problems particularly regarding terrorism. He said that we need to work together to combat this menace and in this regard, urged to enhance information exchange between the two Countries.
The ambassador also invited the minister to attend the upcoming Conference of Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs under the head of “Spreading Islamic Culture and Confrontation terrorism and Challenges” in Cairo in March 2017. The Conference will be attended by representatives from all Islamic Countries.
The envoy said that the Ministry of Religious Affairs And Interfaith Harmony will have the authority to select two Pakistani students for the Quran Qirat Competition 2017 in Egypt.
Moreover, the envoy said that the Egyptian government will establish Arabic Short Courses Center in Pakistan with the cooperation of Sheikh-Al-Azhar University in near future.
The minister assured the support of Pakistani government and his ministry to Egypt in this regard, and said that these practices will capable people to understand the meaning of Holy Quran.
The religious minister said that establishment of Arabic Centers would be started from the federal level first and then tries to spread it to rest of the Country.
Sardar Yusuf also asked to increase of quota up to 200 students to study in Egyptian Universities on the governmental level. He said that right now 13 students are getting their qualification in Egyptian Universities privately, we should give more and equal opportunities to students of all sects.