PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch a scholarship programme for the students of religious seminaries.

According to a statement issued here on Sunday, the decision to launch Rehmatul Lil Alameen Scholarship Programme was made in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

The chief minister directed Auqaf and religious affairs department to take necessary steps to launch the scholarship programme.

He also directed the authorities concerned to take measures to enhance the monthly salaries of registered Khateebs in the province and finalise all arrangements to give monthly stipends to prayer leaders from the beginning of the upcoming financial year.

The payment of monthly stipend to prayer leaders would cost the government around Rs3.25 billion annually. Each prayer leader of the main mosques would get Rs10,000 per month stipend.

Besides Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Auqaf Zahoor Shakir, Auqaf secretary and Auqaf administrator, the meeting was attended by officials concerned of Auqaf and finance departments.

The chief minister directed the high-ups of Auqaf department to finalise necessary amendments to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1979 and present the same to the provincial cabinet for approval to ensure better and efficient management of the Waqf properties across the province.

The meeting was given detailed briefing about the progress so far made on reforms and business plan to streamline all the affairs of the department on modern lines and ensure better and efficient management of all its commercial properties.

The meeting was informed that besides necessary amendments to the existing law, new rules were also being framed to improve the overall efficiency of the department and ensure better utilisation and management of its commercial properties that would soon be tabled in the provincial cabinet for approval.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2021