Punjab Textbook Board (PTB) approved the curriculum for mandatory teaching of the Holy Quran at provinces’ schools and colleges at its 87th meeting on Tuesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Under the new arrangement, children from class 1 to 5th will read Nazira Quran while those from class 6th to 12 will read it along with translation. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab Assembly had passed a bill a few months ago under which teaching of the holy book at educational institutions had been made mandatory.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, 95 percent of Pakistanis support the Punjab government’s decision to make the teaching of the Holy Quran as a compulsory subject from the first to the XII grade across the province.

A nationally-representative sample of adult men and women from across the four provinces was asked the following question: “Recently, the Punjab government has made the teaching of Holy Quran as a subject compulsory in schools across the province from first to XII grade. Some people support this initiative of the Punjab government, while some people oppose this initiative of the government. What is your opinion about it?” In response to this question, 95pc said they support it and 1pc said they do not support it while 4pc did not respond.