PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the finance and Auqaf departments to work out modalities for provision of stipends to prayer leaders, including minorities, within one week.
After the process, cheques will be provided to 21,981 imams and 293 minority prayer leaders.
In this regard, an amount of Rs10,000 will be spent on a monthly basis.
A sum of Rs2.67 billion will be borne by the provincial kitty every year.
Chairing a meeting, the chief minister said the government was committed to ensuring uplift of the weak and downtrodden segment of society.
He said previously religious and prayer leaders were completely ignored with no assistance and ownership of this important institution.
500 prayer leaders in Chitral submit documents for stipends
The chief minister was informed that the identification of prayer leaders and provision of the monthly stipends will be made through the respective assistant commissioners in every district.
Furthermore, funds flow mechanism for disbursement of the financial assistance has been prepared in consultation with the accountant general office.
As per details, the highest number of beneficiaries has been identified in district Peshawar having 2,900 clerics followed by Mardan with 2,803 and Charsadda 2,273.