Govt sets Rs2.5b annual stipends for imams

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to release Rs2.6 billion annually to provide monthly stipends to more than 20,000 prayer leaders in the province. The stipends will also be provided to clerics of other religions in the K-P. Chairman District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) Kohat and member provincial assembly (MPA), Ziaullah Bangash on Sunday distributed stipends among imams of the masajids. They are paid a fixed amount of Rs10,000 by the government.

The Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) government has taken practical steps for the welfare of the religious community, Bangash said while addressing the gathering. Additional Commissioner Kohat Bashir Ahmed and party workers were also present on the occasion. He said K-P government was going to provide Rs2.6 billion to 20,657 prayer leaders and religious minorities’ elders as stipend during the current financial year.

The government had so far distributed Rs78 million among 2,630 imams and minority leaders. Few imams, belonging to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, had refused to receive the stipend. In addition Rs83 million will be provided to 695 imams in Abbottabad, Rs77 million to 648 imams in Bajaur, Rs38 million to 323 imams in Bannu, Rs15 million to 128 imams in Battagram, Rs43 million to 362 imams in Buner, Rs324 million to 2,307 imams of Charsadda and Rs49 million to 409 imams in Lower Chitral.

Similarly, Rs56 million would be provided to 472 imams in Karak, Rs24 million to 203 imams in Khyber, Rs77 million to 647 imams in Kohat, Rs1.3 million to 11 imams in Kohistan Lower, Rs8.1 million to 663 imams in Kurram, Rs63 million to 525 imams in Lakki Marwat, Rs113 million to 944 imams of Malakand, Rs123 million among 1,028 imams in Mansehra and Rs242 million among 2,803 imams of Mardan district.

According to official documents, Rs22 million will be provided to 185 imams in Mohmand, Rs 15 million to 133 imams of North Waziristan, Rs38 million to 320 imams in Nowshera, Rs3.1 million to 26 imams in Orakzai, Rs225 million to 1,880 imams in Peshawar, Rs40 million to 335 imams in Shangla, Rs7.2 million to 40 imams in South Waziristan, Rs93 million to 775 imams in Swabi, Rs137 million to 1,146 imams in Swat, Rs22.4 million to 187 imams in Tank and Rs3.1 million to 26 imams in Torghar.

A total of 293 religious minority leaders will also be provided Rs35.1 million. According to the documents so far Rs 78.9 million has been distributed among 630 imams in Khyber, Upper Dir, Karak, Mardan, Shangla, Orakzai, Upper Chitral, North Waziristan, Swat, Malakand, Peshawar, Swabi, Batgram, Tank, Mohmand, Charsadda, Bajaur, Lakki Marwat, Buner, Haripur, Lower Dir, Nowshera, Bannu, Hangu, Mansehra, South Waziristan, Kurram, Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan and Lower Chitral in the first phase. So far, 16,061 preachers and 213 minority leaders have been declared eligible for scholarship and more are being added.