PESHAWAR, May 31: The NWFP government has issued directives to heads of all provincial departments to make arrangements for prayers at their respective departments in line with the implementation of Shariat Law in the province, said a notification issued here on May 31.

The notification received by the departments concerned from the Establishment & Administration Department, NWFP, on May 31, also said that the decision of the provincial cabinet with regard to Islamisation of the province be implemented in letter and in spirit within 15 days positively.

It also said that a meeting of the Secretaries Committees to discuss the enclosed recommendations of the NWFP Law Reforms Commission, duly approved by the Provincial cabinet in its meeting on March 21, 2003, regarding Islamization of the laws, is likely to be held shortly under the chairmanship of NWFP Chief Secretary.

It further said that in line with the recommendations of the Shariat Council, the departments concerned were required to implement the decision in letter and in spirit.

It has also asked the Law Department to coordinate the implementation of the cabinet decision with the department concerned in terms of Rules 25(2) of the Government of NWFP Rules of Business, 1985.

The notification said that it was obligatory on all Muslims to mould their lives in accordance with the injunctions of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Some of the parts of the Shariat Laws approved by the provincial cabinet needed to be implemented immediately, it said.

The notification has exhorted heads of all provincial departments to perform prayers themselves during the office timings and also make elaborate arrangements for the performance of prayers by their subordinates. It has also directed that the departments concerned should observe a 30-minute break from 1:00pm to 1:30pm in order to enable all employees and students in the educational institutions to perform their Zohr prayers.

The departments have also been asked to provide space for prayers and arrange for waters and bathrooms in the premises of the departments for ablution. To inculcate a sense of spirit and strengthen the faith of the staff, five minutes should be reserved for teaching the meaning of the Quranic verses and Hadith after Zohr prayers.

The directive also said that construction of mosques be made mandatory in the PC1 of all new constructions. Similarly, the construction of mosques should occupy the centre stage in the feasibility reports of all residential schemes. The notification has further made obligatory the construction of mosques in all big restaurants, markets, shopping plazas and recreation resorts in the province.

It has also directed the officials concerned to make arrangements for pasting of notice boards and banners, inscribed with such writings that could create the fear of God and enhance the spirit of morality among the people. For such writings, the department concerned should contact the Shariat Council to seek its guidance.

Likewise, it said, the Urdu translations of the Quranic verses and Hadith be prominently displayed at all Chowks, intersections and busy places, like bus stands and airports and on the road from Peshawar to Attock bridge. Advertisement companies should be contacted to replace vulgar signboards by the Quranic injunctions and take special care that women were not portrayed in negative sense.

Mosques, toilets and waiting rooms should be built at all public places, saying the provincial ministers would act as supervisors, who would carry out special visits aimed at the implementation of these orders in toto.

The Department of Religious Affairs has been asked to constitute special committees to ensure that these directives are implemented in a befitting manner. It has also been entrusted with the task of persuading the people to adopt good practices. The department should present its report about the performance of all provincial departments to the government on monthly basis.