Rawalpindi, (Parliament Times) : Parliamentary Secretary for Auqaf and Religious Affairs Punjab, Malik Iftikhar Ahmed, stated that under the special directives of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, efforts will be made to ensure the digitization of shrines, residential, and commercial properties of Auqaf across Punjab’s 41 districts. The online donation system will enhance transparency, and eliminating bureaucratic hurdles within the Auqaf department will be the top priority. He expressed these views while talking to various delegations at his public secretariat on Sunday.
Malik Iftikhar Ahmed expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for entrusting him with this responsibility and vowed to utilize all his capabilities to fulfill her trust through institutional reforms. He emphasized that immediate measures to improve Punjab’s shrines and provide modern facilities to pilgrims would be his foremost priority.
He further explained that initially, improvements have been made at 15 model shrines, including Data Darbar, Bibi Pak Daman, and Bahauddin Zakariya. The scope of these facilities will gradually be expanded to shrines across all districts of Punjab. In collaboration with the Punjab Quran Board, Mutahida Ulema Board, Ittehad-Bain-ul-Muslimeen Committee, and Khatam-un-Nabiyeen University, religious and educational activities will also be organized. Special events will be held throughout the province in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal.
Malik Iftikhar Ahmed also highlighted plans to enhance the training of Auqaf staff, improve administrative functions, and further activate governance IT initiatives like E-Filing and Office Automation System, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS). Institutional reforms will address staff deployment, disciplinary cases, pension matters, and audit observations within the Auqaf department. These comprehensive measures aim to modernize Punjab’s shrines, provide pilgrims with top-notch facilities, and ensure transparency in managing religious sites’ revenues.