Error-free printing: Parliamentary panel clears draft legislation

Amendment bill aimed at ensuring error-free printing of the Holy Quran

ISLAMABAD:

A top parliamentary committee on Thursday cleared a draft amendment bill on the Publication of the Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing and Recording Errors) Amendment Bill, 2013 after a thorough discussion.

The head of the committee Hafiz Abdul Kareem said the bill is likely to be presented before the lower house within a month.

Thursday’s endorsement came during a meeting held at the Committee Room of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony under the chairmanship of Hafiz Abdul Kareem.

The amendment bill is aimed at ensuring the error-free printing of the Holy Quran.

In September 2013, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) introduced a private bill in the National Assembly aimed at ensuring errorless publication of the Holy Quran on fine quality paper and proper disposal of damaged copies. The bill was introduced by Major (retd) Tahir Iqbal.

The proposed bill also recommends a heftier penalty for anyone who prints the Holy Quran on paper that weighs below 52 grams from Rs5,000 to Rs20,000.

Earlier, the NA committee held discussions about Hajj arrangements and expressed complete satisfaction over them.

“This year, all the pilgrims will get a Rs10, 000 discount on air fare and they will get back the remaining amount from 3,000 Saudi riyal which they have paid for their accommodation before returning to Pakistan,” he said.

Besides this, strict directions have been given for the providing best transportation and quality food to all pilgrims, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2015.