CHITRAL, Sept 26: Scholarships for further education were given to top position holders of matriculation examinations in Chitral district on Wednesday.

Qari Faizullah, of a Karachi religious seminary, gave scholarships to Ayesha Sultan, Hina Ghani and Saima Qayum of Government Girls High School, Muldeh, Tauseef Ahmad of Broze Public School, Nighat Tariq of Muslim Model School and Ihteshamul Haq of Orion Public School Booni during a special function.

Shields were given to the principals of the said schools for excellence.

Chitral DCO Rehmatullah Wazir, EDO (education) Siraj Mohammad, chief cleric of Shahi Masjid Maulana Khaleequz Zaman and JUI district chief Maulana Abdur Rehman were in attendance at the function.

Speakers said religious leaders were not opposed to modern education and rather supported it vehemently.

They said scholarships granted every year by a cleric (Qari Faizullah) was enough to dispel the impression that religious leaders differentiated between modern education and the religious one.

They said Qari Fazlullah had also substantially contributed to the development of English medium schools and introduction of information technology in the district.

The speakers said a proper balance should be ensured between modern scientific education and theology to bring about harmony in society.

They said quality of education in local schools should be improved. They also called for the checking of cheating in examinations.