Only one loudspeaker allowed outside worship places

E-Paper | May 29, 2026

RAWALPINDI: In a latest move, the provincial government has imposed a ban on the use of more than one loudspeaker in worship places.

In this regard, the police have been directed to launch a crackdown on the violators of the ban under the Punjab Sound Regulation Ordinance 2015.

The law empowers the police to arrest and confiscate the sound system.

The police said only one loudspeaker was allowed outside mosques for Azan, Khutba in Arabic on Friday and during Eid prayers besides announcements for deaths or missing people.

“We have served notices on mosques and other worship places to remove the extra speakers immediately,” superintendent of police Rawal Division Malik Karamat told Dawn.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has already expressed displeasure over the police performance in implementing the ban on the use of loudspeakers, printing and distribution of hate, provocative material and wall chalking.

On the other hand, the provincial government has also directed the authorities concerned to check the unauthorised construction of mosques and madressahs.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2015

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AJamal

Feb 24, 2015 09:20am

What difference it makes if venom comes out of one speaker or several? Useless action.

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Burjor Rustomji

Feb 24, 2015 10:33am

@AJamal, Dear Sir it will make a lot of difference. I should know. I live in close proximity to two mosques, both do not seem to have any monitoring, and words cannot explain what the neighborhood has to bear. The people in charge, use this device whenever they wish to, to the volume they wish to. This is not a acceptable social, communal, neighborhood behavior. What the Punjab government has proposed as in the above column should be legislated. There are old people, sick people, young toddlers, people of all sorts, of all types who wish to live peacefully, sleep peacefully, there is a need to bring awareness.

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Shakoor Alam

Feb 24, 2015 10:46am

Really a very good but belated decision.

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Vasudhaiba kutumbakam

Feb 24, 2015 11:08am

A good step but incomplete. Ban all loud speakers. God omnipresent never need a loudspeaker to convey prayers. There is lesson for India too. Ban loudspeakers at all places of worship be it a temple or mosque.

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ghanshyam

Feb 24, 2015 11:09am

In India their is no such restriction !

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Kalandar

Feb 24, 2015 11:28am

As long as mosques are ruked by uneducated half baked Jihadi Mullha, all our measures are vain.

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Ashutosh Mishra

Feb 24, 2015 11:35am

@AJamal Venomous individuals will at least get the message that there is a writ of the state. A cluch of such measues will enlarge the scope of state control. The other option to this would be laissez faire or strong arm tactics or the use of the bullet by the state. To me these are positive moves in a country which has suffered a great degree of lawlessness...

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Adnan Adeel

Feb 24, 2015 12:11pm

This should also be implimented in Sind, Specially Karachi. We have more than 12 speakers a Masjid in our area with extended usage times other than the primary purposes.

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rabz

Feb 24, 2015 04:09pm

Should be followed through out the country!

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Syed

Feb 24, 2015 06:23pm

Change can only be brought in an incremental manner. Limit mosques to a single speaker and then limit the volume and its use. In every neighbourhood there old and sick, small children, people who work shifts or students preparing for exams so on and so forth. 5 Azans daily is fine and some other special occasions otherwise the speakers should remain quiet. This is a good start.

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Shakeel Ahmad

Feb 25, 2015 02:28am

Great news!!!!! It's the beginning! Then it should be reduced to only the largest mosque in the city and ONLY for azan purposes!

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brmurr

Feb 25, 2015 07:28am

That's one too many.

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Abu-Salmaan

Feb 25, 2015 07:44am

@AJamal Though it is a very much delayed decision but it is a right and necessary step in the right direction and if strictly implemented (which I doubt) will make a lot of difference in checking the nuisance created by the ignorant people through mosques loud speakers who have no respect for the people living in their neighborhood including sick, old, small children, babies and students. It is necessary that the other provinces should also follow the suit.

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Jawad

Mar 02, 2015 04:11pm

Govt should re reconsider the ban. Because of this Azaan cannot be heard by people who lve in come distance from the Mosque.

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