Taimoor Khan
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 8% of urban property tax is officially allocated for the preservation and upkeep of historic mosques and shrines — but no one seems to know where that money is going. The Finance Department remains completely silent, while repeated requests from the Auqaf Department are being ignored.
According to documents, under the West Pakistan Historical Mosques and Shrines Fund Cess Ordinance 1960, 8% of property tax collected in urban areas was earmarked for religious heritage sites. Although the ordinance was effective only until September 30, 1989, the 8% deduction has continued ever since. The question remains: If the Auqaf Department isn’t receiving the funds, then where are these billions of rupees going?
The Auqaf Department has reached out multiple times to both the Finance and Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Departments. While the Excise Department has confirmed the deductions, the Finance Department insists that funds can only be disbursed once the rules are amended. However, the Law Department has recommended amending the ordinance itself instead of just the rules — a proposal that is currently under cabinet review.
Documents reveal that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 79 recognized historical mosques and five officially notified shrines. However, the Auqaf Department is facing serious resistance in bringing more shrines under its control. Sources say this resistance stems largely from the fact that shrine donation boxes are auctioned off, generating significant income. Shrine custodians are therefore reluctant to hand over control.
In one case, the Auqaf Department attempted to bring two major shrines — one in Kohat and another in Nowshera — under its authority, but was forced to back down due to federal-level political interference, sources claim.
When contacted, Adnan Qadri, the provincial minister for Auqaf, Hajj, Religious and Minority Affairs, stated:
“For over 30 years, this department has been entitled to these funds, yet not a single rupee has been released. I have raised this issue in the cabinet. I am hopeful a decision in our favor will be made. Once the funds — amounting to billions — are received, we will initiate development projects.”
Efforts to obtain comments from the Chief Minister’s Advisor on Finance, Muzzammil Aslam, and the Secretary Finance, Sultan Aslam Tareen, were unsuccessful. Messages were sent to both officials, but no response was received.
