Geo-mapping database: Geographical survey of seminaries on the cards

Punjab govt has already compiled data on 13,000 seminaries.

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to conduct geo-tagging (geographical survey) of seminaries in the country through satellite technology.

The National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) will compile the data in collaboration with provincial governments, sources told The Express Tribune.

They said 40 per cent of the total registered madrassas are located in Punjab. The provincial government has already geo-tagged all the seminaries as part of the National Action Plan.

According to Interior Ministry documents, a high number of terrorists have been students of madrassas where some of them were brainwashed to take up arms against the state.

There are an estimated 26,000 registered madrassas in the country. The Interior Ministry and Nacta have been working to compile comprehensive data about the seminaries.

Though not all of the seminaries are involved in promoting extremism and terrorism, the government believes that some of them have been patronising militants in one way or the other.

“Yes, geo-mapping and registration of all madrassas are part of the National Action Plan,” said Nacta Coordinator Sardar Hamid.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2015.