AUQAF and Religious Affairs Department

West Pakistan Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1959 was issued to establish a new department to maintain and regulate prominent shrines, mosques and other waqf properties. Accordingly, Auqaf & Religious Affairs Department started its working in 1960. In the year 1972, the department was made provincial subject. In the year of 1976, it was federalized but finally in the year of 1979, it was again provincialized. The governing law followed by the department is Punjab Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1979.

The department is headed by the Minister Auqaf & Religious Affairs. The administrative head of the department is Secretary / Chief Administrator Auqaf.

Below mentioned institutions / bodies are administered by the department:

  • Punjab Auqaf Organization
  • Muthidda Ulema Board
  • Quran Board
  • Punjab Institute of Quran & Seerat Studies

This department is a self fund generating body, where the basic funding is received from shrine donations, leases of agricultural lands and rents from commercial and residential properties. The funds generated are utilized for education, medical facilities, social welfare, academic scholarships and the upkeep of important religious monuments and holy places.

This department comprises of the following six Directorates:

  • Directorate of Administration
  • Directorate of Estate
  • Directorate of Finance
  • Directorate of Religious Affairs
  • Directorate of Projects
  • Directorate of Health Services

History

Mosques and Shrines have been not only a source of inspiration and spiritual guidance but also the platform of religious learning and propagation of Islam through liberal humanitarian and mutual brotherhood teaching of the saints. Undoubtedly, these humble seats of mosques and shrines of saints have a pivotal role in spreading the message of Islam.

Most of these Shrines and Mosques were waqf, the management of which was with a voluntary local organization. With the passage of time, decay and deterioration set in the running affairs of these holy shrines and important mosques and there was a need to restore their sanctity. As a constitutional obligation of an Islamic state to bring about improvement in the administration and management of Waqf, Auqaf Organization was constituted as legal entity through the Punjab Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1979.

Functions

Essential functions of Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department are as below:

  • Administration of the Punjab Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1979
  • Mosques, shrines and other religious institutions under the control of the Chief Administrator of Auqaf, Punjab, except Historical monuments
  • Religious Trusts
  • Central Auqaf Fund
  • Muslim graveyards taken over by the Chief Administrator of Auqaf, Punjab under section 7 of the West Pakistan Waqf Properties Ordinance, 1979
  • Charitable and Religious Endowments
  • Preparation and implementation of religious education schemes
  • Management of and repairs of Badshahi Mosque, Lahore
  • Punjab Auqaf Academy, Jamia Hajveria, Markaz Maaraf-e-Aulia
  • Religious Education Schemes
  • Publication of books on Islamiat
  • Printing and Publication of the Holy Quran including administration of the publication of the Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing & Recording Errors) Act, 1973
  • Budget under grant No. 31 Miscellaneous 749-649 others
  • Hajj Affairs coordination with the Federal Government
  • Administration of Data Darbar Hospital, Lahore
  • Service matters except those entrusted to S&GAD
  • Purchase of stores and capital goods for:
    • Ittehad Bain-ul-Muslimeen Committee
    • Muttehida Ulema Board
    • Quran Board

Our Offices

Headquarters

Address: Aiwan-e-Auqaf Shah Chiragh Building Near Lahore High Court, The Mall Lahore.
Phone: 042 99210872-3
Email: info@auqaf.punjab.gov.pk

Zonal Offices
Lahore Zone
Address: Darbar Hazrat Shah Chiragh Annexy Building Near Lahore High Court, Lahore.
Phone: 042-99210874
Data Darbar Zone
Address: Darbar Hazrat Data Ganj Bukhsh Lahore
Phone: 042-37230537
Badshahi Masjid
Address: Badshahi Masjid Lahore
Phone: 042-37662729
Data Darbar Hospital Lahore
Address: Data Darbar Hospital near Bilal Ganj, Lahore
Phone: 042-37248602-3-7
Gujranwala
Address: Darbar Hazrat Pir Godhari Sharif Satlite Town Gujranwala
Phone: 055-9332620
Rawalpindi
Address: Darbar Hazrat Pir Abdul Ghani Lane No.1 Gulistan Colony Rawalpindi
Phone: 051-9237389
Sargodha
Address: Jamia Masjid Company Bagh Sargodha
Phone: 048-9230457
Faisalabad
Address: Darbar Hazrat Noor Shah Wali near Lari Ada Faisalabad
Phone: 041-9210230
Pakpattan
Address: Darbar Hazrat Baba Farid-ud-Din Ganj Shakar Pakpattan Sharif
Phone: 045-7374099
Multan
Address: Darbar Hazrat Bahaud Din Zikria Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh Zikria Complex Multan
Phone: 061-9330057
D.G. Khan
Address: Kothi No.137 Block C, Colony Khayaban-e-Sarwar opposite Markazi Masjid Usmania, D.G.Khan
Phone: 064-9260158-9
Bahawalpur
Address: Boostan-e-Aziz Plaza Bahawalpur
Phone: 062-9255387

Relevant Laws

Download the relevant waqf property rules from the links mentioned below.