Islamabad to have uniform prayer timings from May 1

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousuf on Wednesday announced that uniform prayer timings in the federal capital would be implemented from May 1.

Over the course of the past few months, the Ministry of Religious Affairs had been working on introducing uniform prayer timings in the federal capital.

The implementation of the uniform prayer timings was set to be announced by Imam-e-Kaaba Sheikh Khalid al Ghamdi who arrived in Pakistan on April 23, upon special invitation of the government.

Read: Imam-e-Kaaba to visit Pakistan

The implementation is set to take take place from Friday prayers on May 1 in Faisal Mosque, which will also be attended by President Mamnoon Hussain.

Read: Religious leaders evolve consensus on uniform prayer timings Islamabad

"There were some meetings yet to take place but the decision of introducing the system earlier has been taken keeping in view Imam-e-Kaaba's visit to Pakistan," a senior ministry official said.

He said that the committee, working on uniform prayer timings, was supposed to hold a meeting with representatives from educational institutions and religious political parties; however, the meeting did not take place and it was decided that the announcement should be made by the  Imam-e-Kaaba.

Addressing the media, the religious affairs minister said that scholars and imams decided to implement uniform timings of prayer in Islamabad and nearby areas from May 1 and that the procedure will also be put into practice across the whole country shortly after.

Read: Can uniform prayer timings bring religious harmony?

Consensus over the uniform prayer timings was reached in a meeting held by Yousuf along with members from Shia, Barelvi, Deobandi and Ahle Hadith sects on April 16. In this regard, religious affairs ministry had prepared a calendar of prayer times for the entire year and has handed it over to a 10-member Salat committee.

In Wednesday’s announcement, the religious affairs minister said that the committee had come together to make the final decision and from Friday onward, Azaan and prayer times would be held at the same time across the capital.

Commenting on the security of Saudi Arabia, he said that no one has the strength to harm the holy sites whereas Pakistan has adopted a categorical stance on the protection of Saudi Arabia.