Pakistan Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Making Arabic Compulsory In All Islamabad Schools

The Pakistan Senate on Monday (1 February) unanimously passed the Compulsory Teaching of Arabic Language Bill, 2020, which will make it mandatory for all educational institutions in the country - public and private to teach Arabic, Pakistan Today has reported.

The bill tabled by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi was passed in the upper house with overwhelming support of its members.

Only Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani opposed it by saying, "Arabic culture is not my culture. Indus Valley Civilisation is my culture".

Despite his dissenting speech against the move, Rabbani decided not to vote against it.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan while hailing the bill said that learning Arabic is crucial for becoming a good Muslim. He added that this step should have been taken 70-years-ago, and now will help address many issues faced by Pakistanis.

Under this bill, Arabic language will be compulsorily taught from Classes 1 to 5 and students from classes 6 to 12 will learn Arabic grammar in all the schools coming under the Islamabad Capital Territory.

The bill will become a law after it passes the Pakistan Assembly.