Al-Azhar University to establish campus in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Al-Azhar University, one of the oldest and most prestigious centres of Islamic learning, has announced plans to open a campus in Pakistan, strengthening ties between the two nations and focusing on promoting women’s education and deepening understanding of Islamic teachings and Arabic culture.

The announcement was made during a meeting between Minister for Federal Education Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Dr Nazir Mohamed Ayad, the Grand Mufti of Egypt.

Dr Ayad expressed the importance of this collaboration in strengthening the educational landscape of both countries, the official news agency reported.

He also emphasised the value of learning Arabic to fully grasp the true teachings of Islam, while highlighting Al-Azhar University’s strong support for women’s education, with over 40 percent of its students being women.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui warmly welcomed the delegation, emphasising the strong Islamic and cultural ties between Egypt and Pakistan.

The minister further discussed the International Girls Conference in Pakistan on January 11-12, celebrating the initiative by Islamic countries to promote girls’ education. He clarified that Islam supports the education of both men and women, dispelling misconceptions about the prohibition of women’s education in Islam. He stressed that the Pakistani government prioritises equal educational opportunities for women.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui urged greater collaboration between Egypt and Pakistan in advancing girls’ education. He further reiterated that such efforts would help nurture future generations in alignment with the true teachings of Islam.

Secretary of Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani assured full support from Pakistan’s Ministry of Education in establishing the Al-Azhar campus. To highlight the government’s commitment to equal educational opportunities for women, he noted that over 2,000 female students from colleges and universities across Pakistan have been invited to attend the International Girls Conference.

He also informed Dr Ayad that Arabic language classes have been introduced in all public schools in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to promote awareness of Islam’s true teachings.