Govt decides to register madrassas

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to register all madrassas (seminaries) functioning across the country.

Sources said that the decision was taken by the Apex Committee of National Action Plan on Tuesday, during a meeting chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar.

A few years ago, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) introduced a standardized registration and data form for madrassas nationwide. However, despite the passage of several years, all four provinces have failed to register all seminaries.

The registration of seminaries had been pending for a considerable time as part of the National Action Plan (NAP). The NAP was formulated in the wake of the 2014 Peshawar school massacre, with the government’s objective being the regulation and standardization of religious schools throughout the country.

Separately, In a significant decision aimed at safeguarding the territorial integrity of Pakistan, the National Apex Committee on Tuesday issued the October 31 deadline for illegal immigrants to the country before the law takes its course.

The apex committee agreed that all non-citizen residents living in Pakistan unlawfully are warned to leave the country by October 31, 2023.

Read more: Pakistan sets October 31 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave country

In a press release issued after the meeting, it was said that federal and provincial authorities, starting from November 1, 2023, will take all possible measures to apprehend and ensure the lawful deportation of unlawfully residing foreign nation