Punjab disburses Rs14.5bn to mosque imams

By LAHORE: The Punjab government has disbursed Rs14.5 billion to mosque imams as honorarium under the Chief Minister's Imam Masjid Sahibaan Honorarium Programme through a transparent, dignified and convenient process. The Punjab Home Department has completed the registration of more than 76,000 mosques across the province, while the geo-tagging of mosques is progressing with the support of field administrations. The progress was reviewed at the fifth meeting of the programme's steering committee, chaired by Provincial Minister and Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique at the Home Department on Tuesday. The minister said the Punjab government was allocating more than Rs20 billion annually for the programme, expressing confidence that it would produce positive results for generations to come. He described the registration of mosques across the province as a major challenge that had been successfully addressed by the Home Department and appreciated the departments and officers involved. He said mosque imams played an important role in nation-building, while mosques promoted peace, tolerance and positive social values. Secretary Home Punjab Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi briefed the meeting on the programme's progress and performance. He said the Home Department was overseeing its implementation and operational matters under the provincial government's directions. He added that the honorarium disbursement system had been made transparent and convenient, while complaints received through the online portal were being addressed promptly. The department was also introducing a chatbot to help mosque imams resolve issues and obtain timely information and guidance. The Bank of Punjab and the Punjab Information Technology Board were directed to resolve issues related to the online application process promptly. The meeting was further informed that mosque imams should ensure at least one transaction every three months through their bank accounts to keep them active and avoid interruptions in honorarium payments. The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Home Faisal Farid, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Countering Extremism Ghulam Sagheer Shahid, Punjab Information Technology Board Director General Syed Qasim Afzal, Bank of Punjab Head of Transactions Sharjeel Raza Khan, Punjab Charities Commission Chief Executive Officer Colonel Shehzad Amir and other senior officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026