On Friday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt announces to release Rs619.7 million funds for the disbursement of stipend to mosque imams & religious leaders of minorities all over the province.
In the notification issued by finance dept, it is stated that they had consented to release Rs619.7 million through the re-appropriation of financial resources as the fiscal year 2021-22’s first half salary for prayer leaders & minority leaders.
Zahoor Shakir, Special assistant to the chief minister for Auqaf and religious affairs; said to media that the Govt has allotted Rs2.6 billion to pay stipend to mosque imams & minority leaders.
According to his statement, the government had gathered and certified the details of over 6,500 religious leaders & would pay each of them Rs10,000 salary each month.
The CM’s secretary stated that the government had previously registered about 22,000 religious leaders all over the province but in last Jan, it made the decision to review the information collected in the 1st phase, including identity card numbers & bank accounts of around 6,500 people.
He further said the Govt was about to introduce a mobile app for the registration of more religious leaders.
Furthermore, Mr. Shakir stated religious leaders could get themselves registered with the government by contacting the appropriate deputy commissioners & Auqaf offices.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Govt Kamran Khan Bangash, said in a statement issued here, after the Ehsaas programs, Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme & Sehat Card, the start of the stipend project was a step closer to the turning of Pakistan into a true Islamic social state.
He said the payment of salary was a great step, which would provide financial help to religious leaders, the insightful demonstrated that the national treasury belongs to all sectors of residents.
He further said that CM Mahmood Khan had released orders to the relevant authorities to guarantee transparency, fairness, & merit in the stipend project & that the government would immediately tackle any flaws or complaints about it.
However, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman opposed the initiative declaring it part of the western agenda for the country and an attempt to bribe religious leaders.
