Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday emphasised the vital role of religious scholars and mosque imams in guiding society, saying their counsel is sought during times of joy, sorrow, and societal challenges.

“Ulema and imams hold a unique and respected position in our communities. Whenever society faces a problem, the first person people turn to is the mosque imam,” she said while addressing a ceremony for the distribution of honorarium cards for mosque imams.

Highlighting the government’s support for religious leaders, Maryam Nawaz announced a monthly honorarium of Rs25,000 for imams across Punjab.

She said around 70,000 bank accounts have already been opened for imams as part of the Rs1.2 billion project, with payments scheduled to begin from February.

She stressed that the initiative is being implemented transparently despite attempts at negative propaganda.

Maryam also called on religious scholars to play a key role in preventing religious hatred and extremism.

She criticised those who, in the name of protest, spread disorder, caused damage to public property, and disrupted social harmony.

“Acts of arson and violence amount to ‘fitna’ are poison for society,” she said, citing attacks on vehicles during the Suthra Punjab programme as an example of attempts to disturb public peace.

Maryam Nawaz added that the government has made the existence of mafias in Punjab impossible and acknowledged that strict enforcement of laws may be unpopular, but holding wrongdoers accountable is the state’s responsibility.

She vowed that the state would seek justice for martyrs and warned against the misuse of religion to incite unrest, calling it a “grave betrayal.”