PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will provide Rs2.6 billion to 20,657 prayers leaders and religious minorities’ elders as “honorarium” during the current financial year. The government has so far distributed Rs78 million among 2,630 imams and minority leaders. Some imams, belonging to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, have refused to receive the stipend.
According to documents, Rs83 million will be provided to 695 imams in Abbottabad, Rs77 million to 648 imams in Bajaur, Rs38 million to 323 imams in Bannu, Rs15 million to 128 imams in Battagram, Rs43 million to 362 imams in Buner, Rs324 million to 2,307 imams of Charsadda and Rs49 million to 409 Imams in Lower Chitral.
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Similarly, Rs56 million would be provided to 472 Imams in Karak, Rs24 million to 203 Imams in Khyber, Rs77 million to 647 Imams in Kohat, Rs1.3 million to 11 Imams in Kohistan Lower, Rs900,000 in eight Imams of Kohistan Upper, Rs240,000 in two Imams of Kolai Palas, Rs8.1 millino to 663 Imams in Kurram, Rs63 million will be distributed among 525 Imams of Lakki Marwat, Rs113 million among 944 Imams of Malakand, Rs123 million among 1,028 Imams in Mansehra and Rs242 million among 2,803 Imams of Mardan.
According to the documents, Rs22 million will be provided 185 Imams in Mohmand, Rs15 million to 133 Imams of North Waziristan, Rs38 million to 320 Imams in Nowshera, Rs3.1 million to 26 Imams in Orakzai, Rs225 million to 1880 Imams in Peshawar, Rs40 million to 335 Imams of Shangla, Rs7.2 million to 40 imams in South Waziristan, Rs93 million to 775 imams in Swabi, RS137 million to 1,146 imams in Swat, Rs22.4 million to 187 imams in Tank and Rs3.1 million to 26 imams in Torghar.
A total of 293 religious minority leaders will also be provide Rs35.1 million
According to documents, so far Rs78.9 million has been distributed among 630 imams in Khyber, Upper Dir, Karak, Mardan, Shangla, Orakzai, Upper Chitral, North Waziristan, Swat, Malakand, Peshawar, Swabi, Batgram, Tank, Mohmand, Charsadda, Bajaur, Lakki Marwat, Buner, Haripur, Lower Dir, Nowshera, Bannu, Hangu, Mansehra, South Waziristan, Kurram, Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan and Lower Chitral.
The government has decided to release Rs600 million annually for this project which will benefit 20,000 prayers leaders across the province. So far, 16,061 preachers and 213 minority leaders have been declared eligible for scholarship. The stipends will be released before the start of the new financial year.
