Ahsan stresses integration of religious, modern education for knowledge-based national development

ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday stressed the need for integrating religious and modern education to develop a comprehensive educational system capable of equipping youth with knowledge, research skills and ethical values.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Mufti Abdul Rahim, while discussing reforms in the national education system, curriculum improvement, integration of religious and contemporary education, promotion of research and knowledge creation, character building of youth and education’s role in national development.

The federal minister said the universities and religious seminaries needed to come together on a common platform and contribute to national development in accordance with Islamic principles and values.

Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan needed an education system that promoted modern sciences, technology, research and knowledge creation alongside religious and ethical training.

He said Islam encouraged humanity to acquire knowledge and undertake research, observation, reflection and contemplation, recalling that the Muslim world had once led the world in scholarship and research, making significant contributions to astronomy, medicine, mathematics, geography and other disciplines.

He stressed the need to revive this rich intellectual tradition in line with contemporary requirements, saying Pakistani youth must become creators rather than merely consumers of knowledge.

The minister said promoting a culture of research, innovation and knowledge creation in universities and educational institutions was among the government’s key education priorities.

He observed that the Holy Quran encouraged reflection on the phenomena of the universe; therefore, research should not remain confined to traditional disciplines but extend to space, science, environment, botany and other fields of knowledge.

The meeting also discussed curriculum improvement and character building.

Ahsan Iqbal said efforts were being made to improve curricula in a manner that would connect students with modern knowledge as well as their history, culture, values and intellectual heritage.

He said teaching Islamic Studies alone was not sufficient, and that ethical training, character building, responsibility and positive national values should also be effectively incorporated into the education system.

He stressed that the intellectual and moral development of future generations was directly linked to the country’s future.

Discussing language and education reforms, the federal minister said learning English at the working level was necessary, but national and regional languages also needed to be promoted to develop creative and intellectual capabilities.

He said several successful nations had achieved progress by promoting knowledge and research in their own languages, adding that Pakistan also needed to create an educational environment where language became a source of knowledge, creativity and identity rather than a barrier.

During the meeting, a briefing was also given on a proposal for establishing a financial fund for Jamia Rashidia.

The minister said the ongoing education, curriculum and civil service reforms were part of a broader vision to transform Pakistan into a knowledge-based, creative and values-driven society.