- Millions of rupees spent on VVIP protocol, five-star lodging and expensive gifts for Al-Sheikh Saleh bin Muhammad al-Talib
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) has reportedly spent millions of rupees on the visit of Imam-e-Kaaba to Pakistan last month, in violation of Finance Division’s rules prohibiting large-scale expenditures, Pakistan Today has learnt
Last month, Imam-e-Kaaba Al-Sheikh Saleh bin Muhammad al-Talib visited Pakistan and was given a VVIP protocol, residence at a luxury hotel and expensive gifts, all in violation of rules set forth by the Finance Division.
Sources said that though Imam-e-Kaaba returned to his country, ministry’s officials, however, remained busy in arranging funds as the ministry had borrowed money for the trip. On the other hand, the administrative wing of MoRA has raised objections over the cost of expensive gifts handed out to the imam, and the matter has been referred to Finance Division.
Sources told Pakistan Today that the visiting imam’s stay was arranged at a five-star hotel in Islamabad, costing Rs500,000 million, with over Rs200,000 was spent on meals, even though the Ministry of Finance had directed that the expenditure should not exceed Rs2500 per person of meals.
They also said that the gifts given to the visiting dignitary of Rs300,000 were also in violation of rules.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Prime Minister’s Office separately gave expensive gifts to the dignitary, putting an extra burden on the national exchequer.
“The government is already facing a financial crunch but the government is spending millions on Saudi imam, putting an extra burden on the national exchequer,” said a senior official of the ministry requesting anonymity.
Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Shawki Allam also visited Pakistan last month and held several meetings with Pakistani officials.
Sources said that the government spent Rs4.5 million on official visits of both the dignitaries.
The irony of the matter, however, was that Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf was found unaware of the fact that the dignitary was a state guest.
When contacted, the minister claimed that Imam-e-Kaaba was invited by Ahle Hadith school of thought and the ministry did not pay a single penny. When told that the imam was a state guest and the ministry violated rules by resorting to excessive expenditure, he said that he will check with the secretary of the ministry and will give his reply.
