ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed on Wednesday that outstanding utility bills amounting to Rs19.587 million for 86 mosques in the capital remain unpaid. The mosques are managed by the Auqaf Department.

The Ministry of Interior told the House, in a written reply, that Rs11.17 million in electricity and Rs8.41 million in gas dues remained unpaid.

The minister said the bills were outstanding due to shortage of funds. However, he added that no disconnection notices had been issued by the Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (Iesco) and Sui Northern Gas Company out of respect for the mosques.

The minister clarified that Auqaf administration is making efforts to receive funds through regular budgets or supplementary grants to clear the bills. Additionally, meetings are being held with the Ulema of the concerned mosques to stress upon the need to control usage of utilities.

Lal Masjid appears to be the mosque with the most energy consumption. It has Rs3.8 million payable in bills. It includes a Rs2.1 million electricity bill and a gas bill of a little below a million rupees.

Asna Ashri mosque in the same sector has an outstanding amount of Rs1.8 million but in this case, Rs1.3 million needs to be paid in gas bills while a little over half a million in electricity bill.

Masjid Al-Shuhada of G-6 has utility bills of over Rs1.3 million against it, out of which Rs1 million is electricity bill.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2014