Naveed Ahmad Khan
Islamabad : Pakistan and Turkmenistan have agreed to expand cooperation in religious education, Quranic studies and related fields, following a meeting between a visiting Turkmen delegation and Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
Turkmenistan’s Chief Imam and former Grand Mufti, Yalkap Hojagulyyev, visited the ministry with a delegation and met Federal Secretary for Religious Affairs Abrar Ahmed Mirza. The two sides held detailed discussions on promoting religious education and agreed to broaden bilateral collaboration, including by drawing on Pakistan’s experience to promote Islamic teachings in Turkmenistan.
The delegation included Turkmen Ambassador Atajan Mulamov and First Secretary Bayram Yazov. Joint Secretary (Dawat and Ziyarat) Shahbaz Mustafa and Deputy Secretary Dr. Shahid ur Rehman Marth also attended on the Pakistani side.
Mirza noted that the two countries already work together on cultural and economic ties, and said cooperation in religious education would further strengthen relations. He said Quranic and religious sciences are taught up to university level in Pakistan’s modern educational institutions, and that Pakistani scholars serve at prominent academic and research institutions worldwide. He expressed hope that new avenues for educational and religious cooperation would emerge.
Hojagulyyev said the main purpose of his visit was to learn about Pakistan’s religious education system, curriculum and teaching methods. He said Turkmenistan hopes to benefit from Pakistan’s expertise in teaching basic Islamic beliefs, jurisprudence and Quranic exegesis.
The Chief Imam also said construction is under way in Turkmenistan’s new city on the Arkadag Ruhy Mosque, which will accommodate 30,000 worshippers. A madrasa for religious education will be established alongside it.
Both sides stressed the need to make cooperation more organized and effective through the exchange of knowledge, teaching experience and academic links.
