KARACHI -- The Pakistani government August 29 signed an agreement with the Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris Pakistan (ITMP) as part of an effort to streamline madrassas and halt the spread of extremist ideology.
Pakistan Forward has viewed the agreement.
The agreement came after months of talks with the leaders of the ITMP, which manages thousands of religious institutions throughout Pakistan.
Under the agreement, all madrassas operating in the country must register with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. Those who refuse to register will be closed down and not allowed to open bank accounts.
The ministry will open 12 facilitation centres across the country to help madrassas register with the government.
For their part, the madrassas have agreed to include modern subjects in their curricula.
