Punjab Auqaf Department cracks down on shrine donation misuse

According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, Secretary and Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, acting as the competent authority

LAHORE: The Punjab Auqaf Department has imposed disciplinary penalties on former officials of the shrine of Hazrat Bibi Pak Daman (R.A.) after an official inquiry found evidence of financial irregularities involving devotees’ donations.

According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, Secretary and Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, acting as the competent authority under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act, 2006, approved the penalties after endorsing the findings and recommendations of the inquiry officer.

The investigation was launched on the directives of the Auqaf Board and Provincial Minister for Auqaf Chaudhry Shafay Hussain. Authorities stated that the inquiry established serious violations of financial procedures and a breach of public trust relating to the management of shrine donations.

Former Manager Zahid Iqbal received a major penalty, including the forfeiture of five years of past service. He was also directed to repay Rs53.86 million after investigators concluded that financial losses had occurred due to negligence, irregular income patterns, and failure to conduct mandatory inspections.

Meanwhile, former Senior Clerk and Accountant Imtiaz Hussain was awarded a minor penalty of withholding annual increments for three years. The inquiry found him responsible for poor record-keeping, failure to properly maintain cashbooks, missing supervisory endorsements, and neglecting to report revenue discrepancies.

The allegations of direct financial misconduct against former Gatekeeper Mohsin Shah and former Caretaker Zafar Iqbal could not be substantiated during the proceedings. However, departmental authorities have recorded administrative restrictions in the service records of all officials involved, barring them from future assignments related to cash handling, donation management, or revenue collection duties.

A spokesperson for the Auqaf Department said the action reflects the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of religious institutions. The spokesperson warned that any employee found involved in corruption, financial malpractice, or the misuse of devotees’ donations would face strict legal and departmental action under the PEEDA Act.

Officials emphasized that public contributions made at shrines are a sacred trust and that the department will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against embezzlement and misconduct.