Seminaries have no link with terrorism: governor

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar has said seminaries (Madaris) have no link with terrorism and Islam provides rights, justice, equality and protection to minorities.“It is unfortunate that we associate progress with certain unnecessary things. Islam is a religion which provides solution to all problems,” the governor said while addressing the annual convocation of Jamia Tul Khair here on Sunday.The governor said scientific education and religious education can coexist. He said under leadership of Imran Khan, Pakistan is marching towards progress, prosperity and good governance. There is no distinction of poor and rich in ‘Naya Pakistan,’ the governor said and added that looters plundered national wealth and they would not be forgiven.“We need to focus on giving religious and scientific education. We want to make seminaries centres of pluralism, diversity and inclusiveness as they were in Riasat-e-Madina. It was due to scientific education that Pakistan made atomic bomb and we became able to thwart Indian aggression. Whenever anyone conspired against religious education in Pakistan, I vehemently opposed it. We have to tell the world that Islam has no link with terrorism,” he said. Qari Hanif Jalandhri was present on the occasion.Single, double-storey units: Minister for Housing and Urban Development Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed has said that single and double-storey independent housing units will also be available under the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme for low-income families.Giving details in this regard, he said the housing units would be available in Renala Khurd, Chishtian and Lodhran districts. Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed said the down payment for the houses had been reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent to facilitate the deserving people by the Punjab government.The applicants who have already submitted their applications and now were desirous of getting independent houses can also file additional applications for change of houses without any token money. Such applicants will also avail the facility of 10 per cent down payment. He said Lodhran district had also been included in the first phase of the scheme and Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the scheme there.The provincial minister said that application forms could be submitted in the nominated branches of Bank of Punjab in the above-mentioned districts by March 31. Arrangements are being made to give interest-free Qarz-e-Hasna of Rs 0.5 million to the low-income segments of society for construction of their house. The PTI government is pursuing a vigorous policy for providing shelters to the low-income families, he said.

from The News International - Lahore https://ift.tt/2Ua75Cd