Work on $6m Tashkent-funded seminary in Balkh begins

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The construction of the Uzbekistan-funded Imam Bukhari seminary, costing six million dollars, has begun in northern Balkh province, officials say.

Addressing a gathering in Mazar-i-Sharif, Uzbek Consul- General Firkat Nazarov said the madrassa was being built by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Construction for at the request of Balkh Governor Muhammad Yousuf Wafa.

He said the Imam Bukhari seminary was being constructed on 12 hectares of land, with three hectares allocated for the madrasa and the rest for a mosque, a dormitory and other facilities.

The construction of the seminary would be completed in one year by Uzbek engineers and it would have the capacity to educate about 1,000 students, Nazarov added.

Information and Culture Director Zabihullah Noorani hailed the construction of the Tashkent-funded seminary as a sign of good neighbourliness.

Afghanistan and Uzbekistan enjoyed strong relations, which could be useful in resolving problems of both countries, Noorani believed.

Education Director Abdul Jalil Shahidkhel says locals are happy with the construction of the madrasa, where both religious subjects and modern sciences will be taught.

Since the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s takeover in mid-August 2021, the Kabul-Tashkent relations have steadily improved.

According to the education director, Balkh has about 1,300 government and private religious schools, where more than 100,000 students are enrolled.

hz/mud