Hanif Jalandhari, secretary general of Wafaqul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan, said on Wednesday that religious schools will remain open despite a surge in coronavirus cases in the country. 

Responding to a letter written by the Punjab Auqaf Department to the organisation Jalandhari represents, he said that religious seminaries do not fall within the purview of the Punjab Auqaf Department. He said that his organisation has already sorted out issues relating to religious seminaries with Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood. 

According to an agreement reached with the education minister, Jalandhari said, religious seminaries will remain open despite closure of schools and other educational institutions across the country. He said that religious seminaries were following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government for safety against coronavirus.