Overview

West Pakistan Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1959 was issued to establish a new department to maintain and regulate prominent
shrines, mosques and other waqf properties. Accordingly, Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department started its working in 1960.
In 1972, the Department was made provincial subject. Later in 1976, it was federalized but finally in 1979, it was again
provincialized. The governing law followed by the Department is Punjab Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1979.
The Department is headed by the Minister Auqaf and Religious Affairs. The administrative head of the Department is Secretary /
Chief Administrator Auqaf.
The Department administers below mentioned institutions / bodies:

 Punjab Auqaf Organization

 Muttahida Ulema Board
 Quran Board
 Punjab Institute of Quran and Seerat Studies

Functions
The major functions of the Department are enlisted below:

 Legislation, policy formulation and sectoral planning

 Administration of Auqaf Laws and Rules
 Administration of Model Deeni Madaris and Madrasah Education
 Central Auqaf Fund
 Data Darbar Hospital, Lahore and other dispensaries
 Islamic studies and research and propagation of Islamic ideology including holding of seminars, conferences etc.
on related subjects
 Management of Waqf Properties
 Management of shrines, graveyards and other similar religious institutions
 Management and administration of:
o Ittehad Bain-ul-Muslimeen Committee
o Muttahida Ulema Board
o Punjab Quran Board
 Quran Board & Seerat Academy
 Printing and publication of the Holy Quran
 Publication of books on Quran, Seerat and Islamic Education
 Punjab Auqaf Ulema Academy, Jamia Hajveria, Markaz Maaraf-e-Aulia and Aiwan-e- Sufia
 Religious charities and endowments
 Religious training and education
 Budget accounts and audit matters
 Purchase of stores and capital goods for the Department
 Service matters except those entrusted to Services and General Administration Department
 Administration of the following laws and rules:
o Music in Muslim Shrine Act, 1942
o The Punjab Publication of Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing and Recording Errors) Act, 2010
o Waqaf Properties Ordinance, 1979
 Matters incidental and ancillary to the above subjects

 Tahir Raza Bukhari
Feb 6, 2023 - Till Date

The major sources of income of Auqaf Department and its allied organizations are:
Rent from Commercial / Residential Properties
The rent from the Waqf properties under the Administrative Control of the Department is collected on monthly basis. After every
three years, an increase of 25% is added in current rent. On the same pattern, rent from the residential properties is collected.

Cash Boxes
Cash boxes placed at the Shrines are a major source of income of the organization. The devotees offer their Nazrana.

Shoe Keeping / Flower Shops / Toilets Contracts

Shoe keeping, flower shops, toilets contracts are auctioned every year. The process of auctioning start from February / March and
continues till the end of June. A handsome amount of income is generated from these sources.

Fee on Transfer of Property

Commercial / residential properties (which are on rental basis) are transferred after hearing the parities, an amount which is equal
to 50 months current rent is charged. The new rent is assessed and approved by the designated committee.

Sale of Publications
Auqaf organization also publishes books on Islamic topics and Sufia. The sale proceeds generate a nominal amount because the
organization sells these books on no profit, no loss basis. The reason of no profit, no loss is that the Department sells these books
for preaching and information purpose.

Lease of Agricultural Land

The agricultural land under the administrative control of the organization is offered for lease annually. This is another major
source of income. Agricultural land (banjar) is also leased out under Tube Well Scheme for 7 years.
Procedure
The process of leasing is detailed below

 Agriculture land is leased out through open auction after due publicity in National Dailies
 Each year auction schedule is published in National Dailies in month of February / March
 According to published auction schedule, auction proceedings take place on stipulated date and venue fixed in
schedule, under supervision of auction committee
 Every citizen of Pakistan can participate in the auction proceedings
 The Highest bidder of land under auction has to pay full amount of bid along with Government Taxes at the spot
 After approval of bid from the authority, the possession of land is handed over to highest bidders
 Highest bidder of auctioned land can retain the land for further 4 years with increase of 20% in first two years and 10%
in 3rd and 4th year

Details
The total property leased out in different sectors is:

 Notified Waqf Land: 74,964 acres

Agricultural

 Cultivable: 29,907 acres

 Uncultivable: 45,057 acres

Commercial
  Commercial area: 363 acres (available for auction)
 Commercial area: 149 kanal
 Shops: 6,179
 Houses: 1,426
 Graveyard: 3151 acres (approximately)

Allied Institutions
 Punjab Quran Board
 The Punjab Institute of Quran and Seerat Studies
 Ittehad-e-Bain-ul-Muslimeen (IBM) Committee
 Muttahida Ulema Board

Punjab Quran Board

Punjab Quran Board was established in 2004 under an administrative order and the same was given legal cover under the
Act/Rules, 2011. The Board was constituted on November 22, 2011 and same was extended on December 16, 2014. Existing
Board has been re-constituted on December 16, 2018 for a period of three years headed by Moulana Ghulam Muhammad Sialvi,
having representation of Ulema of all sects of Muslims. The existing Board consists of 27 members (16 Ulema + 4 volunteers +
7). According to the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) Act, 2011, Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) Rules,
2011 and amendments therein, issued in December, 2014, the Board has following objectives:

 Ensure error-free printing and publication or recording of Holy Quran and shall, subject to the directions of the
Government, supervise the work of error-free printing and publication or recording of the Holy Quran
 Disposal of shaheed copies of the Holy Quran and other papers containing sacred printed material including electronic
digital devices
 Establishment of Quran Mahals
 Free distribution of the Holy Quran on the basis of criteria and quantity devised by the Quran Board

Status of the Board

 Chief Minister Punjab has given the status of “Special Institution” to the Punjab Quran Board on June 02, 2016

The Punjab Institute of Quran and Seerat Studies

In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of the Section 3 of the Punjab Institute of Quran and Seerat Studies Act,
2014 (Act xxix of 2014), Punjab Institute of Quran and Seerat Studies was established on December 19, 2014. The Board of
Directors of the institute was notified on January 18, 2016. Punjab Institute of Quran and Seerat Studies is an Autonomous Body
of Government of the Punjab under Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department. Chief Minister, Punjab is the Chairperson of the
Board and Minister of Auqaf and Religious Affairs is the Vice Chairperson-I of the Board.
Functions
The main functions of the institute are stated below:

 Conduct research on Quran and Sunnah to find out workable solutions of the problems being faced by the present day
society
 Publish research reports, research journals and such other publications for the promotion and spread of knowledge of
Islam
 Establish Quran Museum and a state-of-the-art modern Islamic library
 Hold national and international seminars and conferences relating to the Quran and Seerat-un-Nabi
  Provide instruction, training, research, demonstration and services in the fields of Quran, Qirat (Tajweed-ul-Quran) and
Sunnah
 Perform academic functions to achieve its objectives
 Prescribe criteria of admission, migration and examination of students
 Admit students and conduct examinations in the prescribed manner
 Select, appoint and promote academic and administrative staff
 Frame and prescribe courses of study
 Provide for research and printing and publication of research and other works
 Make provisions for research, consultancy and advisory services
 Enter into arrangements with other institutions or with public bodies
 Affiliate or associate itself with a university or any other local or foreign institution and establish facilities for the
effective discharge of its functions and responsibilities
 Perform any other function which is incidental to the above functions or as maybe required to promote the objectives of
the Institute as a place of education, learning and research

Ittehad-e-Bain-ul-Muslimeen (IBM) Committee

Ittehad-e-Bain-ul-Muslimeen Committee (IBM) Punjab was established in 1993 in pursuance of approval of the Chief Minister,
Punjab. The existing Committee has been re-constituted on December 21, 2018 for a term of three years headed by Minister for
Auqaf and Religious Affairs, representing Ulemas of all sects including women representation for the first time, for maintaining
religious harmony among all sects of Muslims.
The main objective of the Committee is to create peace and harmony amongst all sects of Muslims and to coordinate with local
administration for religious harmony during special Islamic occasions / festivals.
During the month of Muharram-ul-Haram, special meeting of IBM Committee is convened and the members are requested to
make all out endeavors in their respective areas to create peace and harmony amongst all walks of life. Muharram delegations are
also sent across the Punjab before commencement of the Holy Month. These delegations, travel cross the Punjab and have
meetings with local Ulema and administration, and convince them to avoid hate speeches and other material alike which may
ignite public hype.

Muttahida Ulema Board

Muttahida Ulema Board has been established since 1997 in pursuance of the approval of Chief Minister, Punjab, comprising 25
members including Ulema representatives from all sects of Muslims to recommend steps for removal of irritants among various
sects; and, intelligence to look into issues of objectionable literature. The Board was extended from time to time. The existing
Board has been re-constituted on December 19, 2019 for a term of three years with the representation of Ulema of all sects
including women. Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi is the Chairman of the Board.

Legal Framework
This Department is governed by the following Laws / Rules:

Laws

 The Music In Muslim Shrines Act, 1942

 Punjab Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1979
 The Punjab Holy Quran (Printing And Recording) Act, 2011

Rules

 The Punjab Waqf Properties (Accounts) Rules, 1982

 The Punjab Auqaf Organization (Appointment & Conditions of Services) Rules, 1994
 The Punjab Waqf Properties (Administration) Rules, 2002
 Way Forward
Digitization / Office Automation
The following steps are being taken for the digitization of the various directorates of the Department:
Modernization of Cash Boxes
Negotiations are underway with different banks and organizations for installation of cash collecting machines on the model of
ATMs or placement of transparent cash boxes at major shrines.
GIS Mapping of Auqaf Properties
The process for geo-mapping of all Auqaf Properties has been initiated in collaboration with Urban Unit. The geo-referenced
special data of all agricultural, commercial and residential properties including geo-tagging and demarcation is being carried out.
Surveillance through CCTV Cameras
Surveillance of cash boxes at different shrines is being carried out through CCTV cameras in respective zonal offices.
Automation of Rented Units of Auqaf
The following steps are being taken for automation of units rented by Auqaf:

 Digitization of records of commercial and residential units

 Biometric verification of tenants
 GEO tagging of properties
 Rent collection through TELCOS

Establishment of Facilitation Desk and Other Facilities

Free shoe keeping / toilet facility has been started at all shrines across Punjab. Renovation and reconstruction of toilets at
different shrines across the province is under process. A facilitation counter and first aid desk is now in place at Data Darbar.