Punjab govt to give stipends to prayer leaders

For the first time in the history of Punjab, prayer leaders (imams) will be given stipends, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Prayer leaders of 65,000 mosques of the province will now receive stipends.

The decision was taken at the fifth consecutive meeting on the law and order situation, presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Lahore on Monday.

The chief minister directed the deputy commissioners and the assistant commissioners to meet prayer leaders and inform them that the provincial government will financially assist them. “Prayer leaders are respectable members of the society and it is inappropriate to collect donations and give money to them,” she said.

On the directives of CM Maryam, the construction and repair of mosques was included in the annual development programme.

The meeting decided that special buses would be run for the Raiwind tableeghi congregation, and that foolproof security arrangements would be made for the gathering.

The meeting also decided to form cyber crime cell in the province.

The chief minister also directed that action be taken against those making wrong use of loudspeakers.