LAHORE: Punjab government has announced a systemic overhaul of fund collection at provincial shrines, ordering the immediate digitization of cash boxes following the discovery of a massive theft at the Data Darbar shrine.
The scandal came to light after it was revealed that crores of rupees had been embezzled from the cash boxes at the historic shrine.
In a swift administrative response, the Ministry of Auqaf has dismissed two managers implicated in the matter. Furthermore, the Ministry has issued formal orders for the recovery of Rs. 1.25 crore.
To prevent future leakages and ensure the security of donations, the provincial government has decided to implement a comprehensive digitization system for all cash boxes installed at shrines across the province. The move is intended to replace manual handling with transparent, electronic tracking to eliminate the possibility of theft.
Commenting on the incident, Punjab Minister for Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Chaudhry Shafi Hussain, emphasized the ethical gravity of the crime.
“The income from the cash boxes installed at the shrines is a sacred trust,” Minister Hussain stated. He expressed regret that such thefts had been occurring and issued a stern warning to corrupt officials, vowing that the Auqaf Department would be “cleansed of all kinds of corruption.”
The government has indicated that this digitization drive is part of a broader effort to bring transparency and accountability to the management of religious sites throughout the region.
