PESHAWAR, Nov 14: The NWFP Minister for Auqaf, Social Welfare, Religious and Minority Affairs, Qari Roohullah Madani, has urged the ulema to play due role for national progress in the prevailing situation wherein patience and prudence were the basic requirements.

He was speaking at a meeting of the ulema of southern districts which was presided over by Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah at Conference Room of Civil Secretariat here on Monday.

The minister said that in view of the performance of the Auqaf Department, the government has decided to extend activities of the department to remaining 13 districts of the province, including Malakand while the Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, has taken personal interest to appoint ulema at tehsil levels too.

Increase in pay scales and pensions of ulema associated with the Auqaf Department and arranging foreign study tours for them was also being planned by the government to encourage and broaden the outlook of ulema on religious affairs, he revealed.

Earlier, ulema of southern districts exchanged views with the governor on current situation as well as religious and national matters.