The fifth meeting of the Steering Committee on the Chief Minister Punjab’s Imam Masjid Sahibaan Honorarium Programme was held at the Punjab Home Department under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister and Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, Khawaja Salman Rafique. Secretary Home Punjab Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi briefed the meeting on the progress and performance of the programme.
The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Home Faisal Farid; Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Countering Extremism, Ghulam Sagheer Shahid; Director General, Punjab Information Technology Board, Syed Qasim Afzal; Head of Transactions, Bank of Punjab, Sharjeel Raza Khan; Chief Executive Officer, Punjab Charities Commission, Colonel Shehzad Amir; Additional Secretary Special Initiatives Nisha Ishtiaq; Additional Secretary Internal Security Javeria Maqbool; Additional Secretary Auqaf Nabeela Javed; DIG CTD Tariq Wilayat; SSP Special Branch Sahibzada Umar Bilal; Deputy Secretary Local Government Kamran Afzal; Deputy Secretary Finance; and other relevant officials.
The meeting reviewed various aspects of the Chief Minister Punjab’s Imam Masjid Honorarium Programme. Participants were informed that since January 2026, an amount of Rs. 14.5 billion had been disbursed to Imam Masjid Sahibaan as honorarium through a dignified and convenient process. The Punjab Home Department has completed the registration of more than 76,000 mosques across the province, while the geotagging of mosques is progressing rapidly with the support of field administrations.
The meeting directed the Bank of Punjab and the Punjab Information Technology Board to resolve issues related to the online application promptly. Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister and Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the Government of Punjab was providing more than Rs. 20 billion annually in honorarium under the programme. He expressed confidence that its positive impact would benefit generations to come.
He said that registering mosques across the province had been a major challenge, which the Punjab Home Department had successfully addressed. He commended all relevant departments and officers who had contributed to completing this task. Khawaja Salman Rafique added that Imam Masjid Sahibaan are playing an important role in nation building and the Mosques are promoting peace, tolerance and positive social values.
Secretary Home Punjab Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi said that, on the directions of the Punjab government, the Home Department was overseeing the programme comprehensively and managing its operational matters. He said that the entire honorarium disbursement system had been made highly transparent and convenient, while complaints received through the online portal were being addressed promptly.
Dr. Qazi further said that the Home Department was introducing a chatbot to resolve issues faced by Imam Masjid Sahibaan and provide timely answers to their queries, ensuring that they received the necessary information and guidance without delay. The meeting was also informed that the Imam Masjid Sahibaan should ensure at least one transaction every three months through their bank accounts to keep them active and ensure the uninterrupted disbursement of their honorarium.
