Rs 5.1 billion Madaris reforms project in limbo

A Rs 5.1 billion Madaris Reforms Project is in limbo as seminaries have refused to provide the data regarding utilisation of funds the centre had given them for introducing reforms. The federal government has categorically refused to release further funds due to 'lack of transparency' in their utilisation by the religious seminaries.
Sources privy to the situation told Business Recorder that the education ministry had yet not released the funds to provinces owing to ongoing controversy.
It is learnt that the provincial governments were not providing data to the ministry regarding registration of seminaries and utilisation of funds the ministry had given them for initiating reforms in madrassas.
It is to be mentioned here that the government after holding a series of meetings had agreed to hand over Rs 5.1 billion project to Religious Affairs Ministry instead of Ministry of Education. However, the funding to streamline seminaries still lies with the education ministry.
A five-year project was initiated to help nearly 8,000 registered seminaries to integrate religious education with formal education by adding to their courses the subjects of English, Mathematics, Pakistan Studies, Social Studies and General Science from primary to secondary level wherein English, Economics, Pakistan Studies and Computer Sciences at intermediate level. The official sources told this scribe that the education ministry had frozen the funds of provinces under this project, about six months ago.
Around Rs one billion earmarked for Madaris reforms lapsed last year due to lack of co-ordination between the federal and provincial governments.
"We were not being provided utilisation reports," sources said, adding that the education ministry was not going to release any amount to provinces unless it gets the previous utilisation report.
"We will release no more money unless they provide us complete details of how many seminaries are registered and where the allocated money was spent," they clarified.
Furthermore, the education ministry will ensure that only those madaris get funding in future who have introduced the formal education and are following the centre policy.
The Senate Standing Committee on Education has also directed the ministry to get necessary feedback about the funds so far disbursed from provincial governments for improving the condition of registered Madaris.