Geo-tagging database: Punjab maps location of 11,000 madrassas

Chapters on interfaith harmony to be added in curriculum.

LAHORE: Under the recently crafted anti-terror policy, the Punjab government has completed geo-tagging of 11,000 religious seminaries across the province and compiled their sect-wise breakdown.

The geo-tagging data consists of the latitude and longitude coordinates, and may also include exact altitude, bearings, distance, accuracy data and the place name. A provincial government official told The Express Tribune that geo-tagging was done under the National Action Plan (NAP) and the data was being categorised.

“The chief minister was given a briefing a few days ago on the subject,” the official said requesting anonymity. The government has also decided to include chapters on interfaith harmony, brotherhood and tolerance for all sects and religions in the curriculum of seminaries.



The seminary managements had expressed some reservations regarding the changes but they were assured their curriculum would not be changed and only a few additional chapters would be added.

“This is already being done in the curricula of schools, colleges and universities in the province,” another official who attended the meeting with the Punjab chief minister said.

He added 400 foreign students studying without legal documentation in different religious schools would also be deported soon. A list of these students has been sent to the federal government to initiate action.

“Hundreds of such people who are supportive of terrorists or are involved in terrorism in any way have been arrested in Punjab,” the official said, claiming around 90% of the 20 points of NAP have been implemented in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2015.