12 April 2004	Monday	21 Safar 1425

ISLAMABAD, April 11: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ejazul Haq on Sunday said religious seminaries are playing effective role in providing free educational facilities to more than one million poor and deserving people.

Speaking at a two-day seminar on the life of Maulana Abdul Hassan Ali Nadvi at the International Islamic University (IIU), the minister said contributions of the Madressahs could not be denied at any cost.

He said the government did not plan to change the curriculum of the Madressahs. He said the government only wanted that some subjects should be included in the curriculum of Madressahs so that the students after graduating could join different fields and meet the challenges.

The minister while appreciating the contribution of Maulana Nadvi emphasized the need to follow his teachings. Earlier, speaking at the concluding session of the annual celebrations of Darbar Pir Mohra Sharif, the minister said the teachings of saints and sufis were a permanent source of guidance for Muslims.

Meanwhile, the IIU has announced the schedule of its 16th cultural week from April 18. A variety of programmes such as speech contests, debates, essay competitions in English and Arabic, Hifzul Quran, Husne Qiraat competitions, various games and Mushairas would be organized.

In addition, a discussion on "Dialogue between the Muslim world and the West - Past achievements and future vision - has been scheduled. Initially, four sessions will be held in which scholars from around the world will speak on dialogue among civilizations, victimized Muslim minorities, democracy and shura, jihad and terrorism, women in Islamic and western perspectives and the role of Muslims universities and the media in bridging the two civilizations. -APP/PPI