Gilgit mandates Holy Quran classes in schools

Region’s govt mulls establishing anti-corruption department

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government has made ‘Quran education’ mandatory up to fifth grade in all public schools across the region.

“Initially this decision will be applicable to government schools, but gradually private schools will also be required to incorporate Quran studies in their curricula,” Faizullah Faraq, the official spokesman for the G-B government told The Express Tribune on Sunday.

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting in Gilgit on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman. Besides ministers, it was also attended by the chief secretary and other heads of various departments.



Anti-corruption dept

The spokesman said the government also plans to table an anti-corruption bill in the G-B assembly to make relevant laws and to set up an anti-corruption department in the region. Once the bill has been passed by the region’s legislature, Faraq said “we will be able to refer [corruption] cases to the department for speedy processing.”

The spokesman said that this department would process cases far more quickly as compared to the time taken by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to resolve complaints.

“Officers investigating a case will be bound to complete investigation within one month,” the spokesman said.



Regularisation of services

Providing details of decisions taken during Saturday’s cabinet meeting, Faraq said services of employees of Rescue 1122 from grades one to 15 would be regularised.

“Doctors working in G-B will also be given additional incentives,” said the spokesman, adding that they would soon introduce laws to discourage private business on interest, which are against Islam.

Furthermore, he said that families of army officials, who had lost their lives due to an avalanche in Giyari sector, will be given jobs.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2016.