Government hopes to use Imams to raise awareness
State is facing multifaceted challenges, the government needs support from all walks of life, Ahsan Iqbal argues.
Apart from narrating stories during their Friday sermons, the Imams could also become partners with the government. PHOTO: CREATIVE COMMONS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
In an attempt to shore up support from all segments of the society, the government said on Tuesday it is hoping to use the pulpit to improve understanding of the country’s development and social issues.
Apart from narrating stories during their Friday sermons, the Imams could also become partners with the government in sensitising millions of mosque goers every Friday, said Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal.
Addressing the Pakistan Business Council (PBC), Iqbal said, “We are thinking about becoming partners with Imams who should speak about Millennium Development Goals, poverty and malnutrition and make people aware of their responsibilities.”
Involving prayer leaders, the minister said, is one of many interventions that the government has on its cards to address the country’s problems. Since the state is facing multifaceted challenges, he said, the government needs support from all walks of life including from businessmen and religious leaders.
Short of discussing the contours of his plan, Iqbal did not mention the challenges his government may face in convincing clerics to talk about these issues.
“As a nation, we are losing our moral values and we should start from schools before using mosques,” said Bashir Muhammad Ali, chairman of Gul Ahmad Group. He said it is unfortunate that our children do not understand what our religion is about.
While briefing the PBC members about his government’s under preparation mid-term plan 2013-18 and long -term plan Vision 2025, Iqbal spoke at length about the main pillars of the proposed models.
He said it was pity that Bangladesh had overtaken Pakistan in exports, which exposed the weakness of the country’s export models. He also talked about diversification and value addition in exports, resolution of energy crisis, addressing fiscal imbalances and focusing on social issues like health and education.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2013.
In an attempt to shore up support from all segments of the society, the government said on Tuesday it is hoping to use the pulpit to improve understanding of the country’s development and social issues.
Apart from narrating stories during their Friday sermons, the Imams could also become partners with the government in sensitising millions of mosque goers every Friday, said Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal.
Addressing the Pakistan Business Council (PBC), Iqbal said, “We are thinking about becoming partners with Imams who should speak about Millennium Development Goals, poverty and malnutrition and make people aware of their responsibilities.”
Involving prayer leaders, the minister said, is one of many interventions that the government has on its cards to address the country’s problems. Since the state is facing multifaceted challenges, he said, the government needs support from all walks of life including from businessmen and religious leaders.
Short of discussing the contours of his plan, Iqbal did not mention the challenges his government may face in convincing clerics to talk about these issues.
“As a nation, we are losing our moral values and we should start from schools before using mosques,” said Bashir Muhammad Ali, chairman of Gul Ahmad Group. He said it is unfortunate that our children do not understand what our religion is about.
While briefing the PBC members about his government’s under preparation mid-term plan 2013-18 and long -term plan Vision 2025, Iqbal spoke at length about the main pillars of the proposed models.
He said it was pity that Bangladesh had overtaken Pakistan in exports, which exposed the weakness of the country’s export models. He also talked about diversification and value addition in exports, resolution of energy crisis, addressing fiscal imbalances and focusing on social issues like health and education.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2013.