Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired an important meeting of all relevant departments of Punjab Government, in which it was decided to establish more effective mosque management committees, comprising respected local notables, across Punjab. Participants of the meeting noted that state, religious scholars and community elders stand united for the maintenance of peace and harmony in the province. The authorities concerned briefed them that Punjab Government has transformed administration of mosques into a public trust, ensuring transparency and community participation. They highlighted that orders have been issued to guarantee immediate disbursement of stipends to ‘Imams’ across the province.
They apprised the meeting participants that registration process for mosque ‘Imams’ is in the final stages, and as directed by Punjab government, special counters have been established in every tehsil office under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner to swiftly facilitate registration process. They also briefed that ‘Imams’ will be able to submit their stipend application forms in both manual and digital formats and stipend disbursements will commence within a few weeks. They underscored that for the first time in Punjab’s history, complete digital mapping and data compilation of religious institutions has been completed. They said that data of 20,863 religious seminaries and geo-tagging of 56,000 mosques has been finalized, with all records stored in a transparent digital database.
The authorities concerned briefed the participants of the meeting that a new era of unity, harmony and interfaith brotherhood has begun in mosques being managed by Punjab Auqaf Department. They noted that currently 284 mosques are under the supervision of Auqaf Department, while 47 mosques are being supervised by other ‘Imams’.
They said that taking into account religious and national services of ‘Imams’, Punjab government will soon decide on an increase in their stipends. They added that in order to enforce writ of the state, authorities have arrested 64 individuals who had rented out their properties to Afghan nationals, and cases have been registered against three factory owners found to have business links with Afghan citizens residing illegally in the province. They underscored that more than 45,000 locations across Punjab have been checked to identify illegally residing Afghan nationals.