Imams to get stipend from next month

Issuance of cards for paying honorarium to prayer leaders in Punjab will be completed by February.

The decision was taken in a meeting where Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved the launch of the CM Punjab Honorarium Card for Imam Masjid.

The chief minister said the payments under the scheme would commence on January 1 with the first payments to be made through pay orders.

Relevant authorities informed the chief minister that all payment from February 1 onward would be made through the card.

Officials said 62,994 registration forms had so far been received from Imams across Punjab and the verification process was under way. They said any Imam found involved in activities against national interests or implicated in moral or financial crimes would have their honorarium immediately suspended.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the assistant commissioners across the province to hold monthly meetings with the Imams.

The meeting also approved establishment of Mosque Management Committees and Tehsil committees in the province.

The chief minister ordered continuation of combing operations in sensitive areas.

She also ordered initiation of strict legislation against damaging Safe City cameras and government property.

She directed the authorities to take measures for digital monitoring of individuals listed under the Fourth Schedule and to continue operations against Afghan nationals illegally residing in the country.