Funds needed to counter terrorism at worship places: Sindh Auqaf Minister

Karachi, March 21, 2011 (PPI): Sindh government does not give funds for security measures at the mausoleums and mosques, needed to take necessary measures to counter anticipated terrorist activities, said Auqaf Minister Abdul Haseeb while talking to religious scholars at his office on Monday.

He said because of an acute shortage of finances, it is even difficult for the Auqaf department to give salaries to its 720 member staff deputed at the mosques and mausoleums.

Haseeb informed there are thousands of shrines in Sindh, but only 79 of them are under the administration of the Auqaf department. Besides this, the provincial department has the administration of 78 mosques as well.

He also informed that in view of terrorist activities at such sacred places, 4.8 million rupees have been spent on the installation of close circuit cameras at three big shrines in the province, whereas such measures for other big mausoleums are also being planned.

Furthermore, Haseeb informed that in Karachi 70 million rupees are being spent on the renovation of Alam Shah Baba’s shrine. This amount has been donated by a philanthropist, he told.

He said there are 44 shrines in the province where the income is next to none and a summary in this regard has been sent to the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. A summary of 20 million rupees to beef up security on mausoleums had also been sent to the CM, he added.

All the religious scholars present on the occasion assured the Auqaf minister of their full co-operation.