ICT mosques face gas and power cuts

The electricity and gas contentions of almost all the mosques that come under the ambit of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) might be disconnected, as their outstanding electricity and gas dues swelled to Rs14.5 million.
An official of Auqaf Directorate on condition of anonymity told Business Recorder that the utility bills of the mosques swelled to Rs.14.5 million and Islamabad Electric Supply Company and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) were repeatedly asking the defaulters to pay the outstanding. Various mosques in the city have been served notices for clearance of the outstanding dues. In case of non-compliance, the utility companies have warned to disconnect gas and electricity connections.
The official said that the about Rs.9 million were owed to IESCO and another Rs.5.5 million to SNGPL by the mosques.
The Khateebs and Moazzans of the mosques are approaching the Auqaf Directorate for release of funds. The directorate shows its helplessness, as despite several requests, the Finance ministry is not releasing the required amount to Auqaf Directorate due to budgetary constrains.
Subsequently, when the matter was taken to Senate, it has referred it to Senate Standing Committee on Interior. The committee's meeting has been called on Tuesday (October 18). The representatives of Ministry of Finance and Auqaf Directorate will sit together to evolve any amicable solution of the issue and rescue the mosques from disruption of electricity and gas supply. In the meeting, payment of bills of only those mosques would be considered which comes under the administrative control of District Administration of the capital city.
In addition to this, criteria and procedure of construction of new mosques in capital city will also been discussed so that the consumption of energy can be minimised.
The possibility of transfer of administrative control of mosques from Auqaf Directorate to the Ministry of Religious Affairs for better administrative management would also be explored in the committee meeting. The official further disclosed that a proposal has been under discussion in Ministry of Finance to introduce alternate energy in the mosques.