President Dr. ArifAlvi emphasized the crucial role that mosques can play in the social and economic development of the country during a meeting with religious scholars and officials, including Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Dr. Noor-ul-Haq Qadri.On his visit to Karachi, President Alvi highlighted that mosques hold a central position in society and can contribute significantly to providing education and raising awareness about health issues. He suggested that children who do not attend schools could be educated through mosque-based initiatives.
The President acknowledged the challenges posed by insufficient educational infrastructure, especially for the 26 million out-of-school children, and proposed utilizing existing mosques as centers for providing education. He advocated for the construction of new schools but acknowledged the time and resources required for such projects.
President Alvi proposed that Pakistan’s approximately 150,000 mosques could serve as a cost-effective and unique solution to bring children back into the educational system. President Alvi also suggested incorporating the government’s Accelerated Learning Program into mosque-based educational initiatives.
He stressed the need for mosques to become community centers addressing both worldly and religious education. Federal Minister Dr. Noor-ul-HaqQadri supported the President’s vision, highlighting the importance of the role of mosque imams (“pesh imams”) in overseeing educational activities.
Participants in the meeting praised the President’s vision and emphasized the necessity of enhancing the training of imams to effectively realize this vision.
