Islamabad: Pakistan’s oldest friend and a reliable partner Saudi Arabia is to build a mosque named after King Salman bin Abdul Aziz at the new campus of International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI).
The rector of the International Islamic University Dr Masoom Yasinzai said,
“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has decided to lay the foundation of the King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Mosque within this year. It will have a capacity of 12,000 worshippers at the new campus of the International Islamic University”.
Arabnews.com
The special assistant to Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony and the Middle East, Mr Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi consider this initiative yet another monument of the Pak-Saudia friendship. He hopes that this initiative will lead to fruitful progress in the bilateral relations of both brotherly Islamic States.
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According to the rector of IIUI Dr Masoom Yasinzai, this project is not only limited to the construction of a mosque but a huge complex with research and a cultural centre too for the students and scholars.
The rector further said,
“The research centre will focus on the Arabic language, Islamic culture and heritage. The centre would be equipping a digital technology to provide online Arabic courses from Islamabad to the whole world”
Arabnews.com
The mosque’s complex will also have a library, a museum and an auditorium named after Mohammed bin Salman. Moreover, to teach Arabic, Shariah Law, and other Islamic subjects, Saudi Arabia would be sending the top 15 professors from different universities of the Kingdom.
The professors will come to Islamabad on deputation and Saudi Government will bear all the expenses. Furthermore, the Saudi Govt will also give 250 fully-funded scholarships to deserving students in Pakistan.
Dr Yasinzai said about the cost of the King Salman Mosque IIUI initially, the construction cost was Rs. 500 million but later the addition of a cultural and research centre have increased its cost.
