ISLAMABAD — Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammad Al-Issa attended the closing ceremony of the annual Al-Maher Qur'an Competition in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. The ceremony was held to honor winners of the competition held for the young memorizers under the age of 10. Sharif and Al-Issa also attended a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the project of a branch of the Museum of the Prophet's Biography and Islamic Civilization, of which the main branch is located in Madinah. The ceremony was attended by several ministers and senior scholars of Pakistan, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of Religious Affairs Salik Hussain, and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Malki, along with university professors and students, and memorizers of the Holy Qur'an and their families. Speaking on the occasion, the Pakistani prime minister expressed his gratitude to MWL for its pioneering and unique Islamic role, as well as its efforts in taking care of memorizers of the Holy Qur'an, and its endeavors to spread the Islamic religion's true values. He also commended the MWL's presence and influential global role, referring to the Kingdom's status among the Pakistani people, as well as its influence, its leadership of the Islamic world, and its great efforts in serving humanity in general. In his speech, Al-Issa said: "Today, we are delighted to meet with the young memorizers of the Holy Qur'an, under the patronage and presence of the prime minister of Pakistan, within the framework of the Islamic duties of his government, which attaches great importance to preserving the Holy Qur'an." The prizes were given away to winners of the competition, which lasted for a whole year at the Pakistani national level under the supervision of specialized judging committees. Then, attendees watched a presentation about the exhibition and the museum.
