The Punjab government has taken a historic step for the Imams of mosques across the province and has fixed a monthly honorarium of Rs 25,000 for 70,000 Imams. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has termed this decision as an important step for social stability and religious harmony.
Addressing the honorarium card distribution ceremony held in Lahore, the Chief Minister said that scholars and Imams are the main pillars of moral guidance in the society. He said that whether happy or sad, the people first turn to the Imam of the mosque; therefore, the honour and convenience of Imams is the responsibility of the state.
According to Maryam Nawaz, there are about 80,000 mosques belonging to different sects in Punjab, while the bank accounts of 70,000 Imams have been completed in the initial phase. She said that this project is being completed at a cost of about Rs 1.2 billion, and the transfer of the honorarium directly to bank accounts will start from February.
The Chief Minister clarified that there was negative propaganda against the project, but the government is implementing it transparently. He said that it is the important responsibility of the clerics to prevent religious hatred, and the government stands with them in this regard.
During the ceremony, Maryam Nawaz also strongly reacted to the recent violent incidents, saying that arson and rioting in the name of religion are poison for the society. According to her, the state will deal with those who damage public property with an iron hand.
The Punjab government says that in the future, consideration will be given to further expanding the scope of this project so that the imam of every mosque can benefit from this facility.
