Senior Islamic Emirate officials underlined the importance of religious and modern education and asked for the avoidance of double-standards with educational institutions, at the economic development conference of Afghanistan in Paktia province.

Officials said that the period of conflict is over, and now is the time for everyone to work together to advance and rebuild the nation.

"Religious schools and contemporary schools are necessary for each other. We should grow both ideologically and technically for the development of the country,” said Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting minister of the Interior.

"University science is obligatory the same as when we pray the noon prayer,” said Shahabuddin Delawar, the acting minister of mines and petroleum.

The acting minister of higher education, Neda Mohammad Nadim, said in this conference that it is time to work for the progress and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

"If a country has an economic strength, it will be strong in the military field and secure borders ... In terms of medicine and physicians, we are in need. We are weak in terms of military means, but if we have economic strength, all of these problems would be resolved,” Nadim noted.

The national conference on Afghanistan's economic growth, which is taking place in Paktia province over a three-day period, is expected to feature presentations from university academics on a variety of subjects.