K-P CM for paying stipend to 22,000 prayer leaders
Gives finance, Auqaf departments a week to thrash out modalities
K-P CM Mahmood Khan. PHOTO: PTI
PESHAWAR:
The provincial finance and Auqaf departments have been given a week to finalise the modalities for paying a stipend to over 22,000 prayer leaders, including those from minorities.
This was directed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Wednesday while chairing a meeting on the provision of a monthly stipend to prayer leaders in the province at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
During the meeting, Mahmood was told that prayer leaders were to be provided Rs10,000 each as a monthly stipend. The programme will cost the province Rs2.67 billion annually.
Prayer leaders, who will be provided with the stipend have been identified and that the sum will be transferred through the respective assistant commissioner of each district, including the newly-merged tribal districts (NMTDs).
Furthermore, the mechanism for the disbursement of the financial assistance has been prepared in consultation with the office of K-P’s Accountant General.
Mahmood said that this programme was part of their efforts to uplift the weak and downtrodden segments of society.
He stated that previously, religious and prayer leaders were completely ignored and no assistance was provided to them. Noting that religious institutions play an important role in the local culture, he said that the government will help resolve all their outstanding issues.
The chief minister directed the finance and the Auqaf departments to work out the modalities for providing stipends to religious prayer leaders, including those from minorities, within a week.
Thereafter, cheques will be provided to some 21,981 Jamia Mosques and 293 minority prayer leaders throughout the province.
Mahmood further directed the Auqaf department to undertake stern measures against encroachment on Auqaf lands. Instead, he said that modern commercial markets will be established which will help generate revenue thereby strengthening the provincial economy.
The highest number of prayer leaders, around 2,900, is located in Peshawar. The provincial capital is followed by Mardan with 2,803 prayer leaders and Charsadda with 2,273.
The chief minister added that the data on prayer leaders will be further updated once the scheme starts working in earnest.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2019.
The provincial finance and Auqaf departments have been given a week to finalise the modalities for paying a stipend to over 22,000 prayer leaders, including those from minorities.
This was directed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Wednesday while chairing a meeting on the provision of a monthly stipend to prayer leaders in the province at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
During the meeting, Mahmood was told that prayer leaders were to be provided Rs10,000 each as a monthly stipend. The programme will cost the province Rs2.67 billion annually.
Prayer leaders, who will be provided with the stipend have been identified and that the sum will be transferred through the respective assistant commissioner of each district, including the newly-merged tribal districts (NMTDs).
Furthermore, the mechanism for the disbursement of the financial assistance has been prepared in consultation with the office of K-P’s Accountant General.
Mahmood said that this programme was part of their efforts to uplift the weak and downtrodden segments of society.
He stated that previously, religious and prayer leaders were completely ignored and no assistance was provided to them. Noting that religious institutions play an important role in the local culture, he said that the government will help resolve all their outstanding issues.
The chief minister directed the finance and the Auqaf departments to work out the modalities for providing stipends to religious prayer leaders, including those from minorities, within a week.
Thereafter, cheques will be provided to some 21,981 Jamia Mosques and 293 minority prayer leaders throughout the province.
Mahmood further directed the Auqaf department to undertake stern measures against encroachment on Auqaf lands. Instead, he said that modern commercial markets will be established which will help generate revenue thereby strengthening the provincial economy.
The highest number of prayer leaders, around 2,900, is located in Peshawar. The provincial capital is followed by Mardan with 2,803 prayer leaders and Charsadda with 2,273.
The chief minister added that the data on prayer leaders will be further updated once the scheme starts working in earnest.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2019.