A wide-ranging study of the centrality of the mosque to Islamic education in Pakistan emphasizes Islamic educational traditions, the historical background of such education, the obstacles to educational improvement in Pakistan, and the attempt to provide universal primary education. Traditionally, the Prophet Mohammad and the Holy Quran have been sources of knowledge, inspiration to further education, and Islamic principles. They thus provide a foundation for traditional Islamic educational institutions such as the Kuttab (for elementary education), the mosque, and private scholars. Conventional schools, however, have proved incapable of resolving such representative problems as illiteracy, low enrollments, and high costs and dropout rates. To remedy these ills, Pakistan's New Education Policy of 1978 proposes the exploitation of the mosque's traditional educational role. Though more research is needed, the enduring centrality of the mosque in education suggests its importance as an instrument for educational improvement and the spread of literacy in Pakistan. Three tables present literacy rates in Pakistan (1972), estimated 1982 enrollments in Punjab Province, and comparative expenditures for conventional and mosque schools. Appendixes provide a statement of national educational aims, extracts from religious books, a map of Pakistan, and an account of traditional Islamic education in other countries. (PB)