St Pius X Minor Seminary has become the first such institution in the country to offer internet access to its students.

The project was inaugurated last May, with final preparations being made to install 10 computers with internet connections before the start of the next academic term on August 29.

“I always felt my students were behind the modern world. It didn’t seem fair keeping them away from technology and worldly knowledge. Moreover, they will be using the internet after their ordinations. So why not now?” said Father Benjamin Shehzad, rector of St Pius, which was established 37 years ago.

Fr Shehzad said he is also preparing a library of digital sermons and messages from the Vatican.

“Information about the latest technology is vital for new priests to keep up with their young parishioners. Also, the practice of net surfing is dominating the habit of reading among seminarians.”

The three other minor seminaries in Pakistan have no computer libraries, though the two major seminaries in Karachi and Lahore provide individual computers to seminarians. However, mobile phones remain prohibited.

Fr Zacharia Ghouri, rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in Lahore, sounded a note of dissent, saying that computers obstruct formation in the seminaries.

“They are a waste of time. The new students are only beginners, and thus require more discipline.”

Pakistan has 88 minor and 94 major seminarians studying in at institutions throughout the country.