CM Punjab Honorarium Card Scheme for Imam Masjid
اعزاز امام کارڈ — وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب آنرریم کارڈ سکیم برائے آئمہ مساجدFor decades, mosque imams across Punjab — the men who lead daily prayers, deliver Friday sermons, and serve as the spiritual backbone of their communities — have largely depended on irregular community donations for their livelihood. There was no structured, dignified, government-backed system that recognized their service. The CM Punjab Honorarium Card Scheme for Imam Masjid, popularly referred to as the Aizaz-e-Imam Card, was introduced to change that.
Under the personal initiative of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the scheme provides a fixed monthly honorarium of PKR 25,000 to registered imams serving in mosques across all districts of Punjab. The government has described it as a landmark welfare measure, with an estimated annual budgetary commitment exceeding PKR 1.2 billion.
What sets this scheme apart from typical welfare disbursements is its emphasis on dignity and transparency. Rather than routing funds through intermediaries, every payment lands directly in the imam's personal bank account, accessible through standard Bank of Punjab ATM facilities — the same convenience available to any salaried citizen.
The payment mechanism was deliberately phased to ensure no imam was left waiting for funds while the digital banking infrastructure was being finalized. Here's exactly how it unfolds:
Answer these questions to check whether you qualify for the Honorarium Card under current scheme rules.
Already submitted your form through your Tehsil or District Mosque Management Committee? Use the reference details below to understand how status checking works, then verify on the official portal.
ماہانہ
کل مہینے
کل رقم
Rather than centralizing every verification at the provincial level — which would have created massive bottlenecks for a scheme covering 70,000 individuals — the Punjab Government devolved this responsibility to local committees:
This two-tier structure is the reason over 62,000 forms have already been verified province-wide in a relatively short span — local committees can process applications far faster than a single centralized office ever could.
یہ دو سطحی نظام اس بات کی وجہ ہے کہ اتنی کم مدت میں 62,000 سے زائد فارمز کی تصدیق ممکن ہوئی۔ مقامی کمیٹیاں کسی بھی مرکزی دفتر سے کہیں زیادہ تیزی سے درخواستوں پر کام کر سکتی ہیں۔The Government of Punjab has built strict accountability safeguards into this scheme. The honorarium card is treated as a position of public trust, not an unconditional entitlement — and the rules reflect that.
- Involved in any illegal or unlawful activity inconsistent with their religious role.
- Promoting sectarian hatred or incitement against any group, sect, or community.
- Engaged in anti-state activities or actions deemed harmful to national interest.
- Found to have submitted false information during the registration process.
- Original CNIC and a clear photocopy
- Proof of appointment as Imam at the mosque
- Mosque registration certificate (if applicable)
- Active personal bank account details
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Mobile number registered in the imam's own name
- Letter of endorsement from the mosque committee
- Domicile or residence proof of the relevant district
- Character certificate, where requested by the committee
- Previous honorarium or stipend records, if any
For the latest official updates and announcements regarding this scheme, refer to the Directorate General of Public Relations, Punjab and the Government of Punjab official portal.
Each registered imam receives a fixed honorarium of PKR 25,000 every month. This amount does not vary based on mosque size, location, or congregation — every approved imam across Punjab receives the same fixed rate.
When the scheme launched, not every imam's bank account had yet been linked to the Bank of Punjab system. Rather than delay the very first payment while account integration was completed, the government used pay orders as a temporary, immediate disbursement method. Every payment from the second month onward is made digitally through ATM transfer.
No. Once your registration is verified and approved by the Tehsil and District Mosque Management Committees, the honorarium continues automatically every month as long as you remain in good standing — meaning you continue serving as imam and maintain a clean conduct record under the scheme's rules.
Mosque registration is a prerequisite for honorarium eligibility. If your mosque has not yet been registered, you should approach your Tehsil Mosque Management Committee directly — they can guide you through the mosque registration process, which is a separate but necessary step before your individual honorarium application can be processed.
The scheme has been publicly framed as a welfare honorarium rather than a salary or business income. However, tax treatment of government honorariums can be subject to change under federal and provincial tax rules. For a definitive answer relevant to your individual situation, it's advisable to consult the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) or a qualified tax advisor.
The scheme is designed around individual imams, not individual mosque positions. Based on publicly available scheme guidelines, each eligible imam is expected to receive one honorarium card regardless of how many mosques they may be associated with. For specific clarification on dual appointments, applicants should consult their District Mosque Management Committee directly.