LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has rolled out an extensive and highly structured registration drive for mosques across the province, directing all deputy commissioners (DCs) to supervise and execute the campaign at the district level. The initiative, one of the most comprehensive documentation exercises undertaken for religious institutions in Punjab seeks to create an accurate, centralised and verifiable database of mosques, their facilities, imams and administrative committees.
The newly issued Masjid Form No. 11/25/2, a copy of which is available with Daily Jang, contains 39 detailed questions, covering a wide array of information categories. Mosques have been asked to provide their complete name, sectarian affiliation, year of establishment, full address and the police station under which they fall. Basic administrative identifiers, including the name of the locality, tehsil, district and division, are also required to enable authorities to geographically map and verify every mosque.
A large portion of the questionnaire deals with the physical structure and capacity of mosques. Details sought include the total land area in marlas, measurement of the main prayer hall and courtyard in square feet, and the presence of essential amenities such as ablution areas, washrooms and an attached residence for the imam. The form also asks whether five daily prayers and Juma prayers are performed regularly and requests the average number of daily worshippers, excluding Fridays.
The Home Department has also sought information on whether any madrassa is linked to the mosque and, if so, its complete name. Additionally, each mosque must state its ownership status whether privately owned, under a management committee, or held through any other arrangement—allowing the government to understand and assess the legal and administrative footing of each institution.
A significant segment of the form is dedicated to the mosque’s imam. Authorities have asked for the imam’s full name, father’s name, CNIC number, date of birth, educational qualifications, contact number and the length of time he has been serving at the mosque. The form further requires the name of the individual or committee responsible for the imam’s appointment, along with his temporary and permanent residential addresses. A copy of the CNIC is mandatory to attach.
The latter questions focus on governance and oversight. Mosques must state whether a management committee exists to run day-to-day affairs. If formed, the complete names, CNIC numbers and mobile numbers of the committee’s chairman and secretary must be provided. This information, officials say, will help determine the strength, transparency and legitimacy of administrative structures overseeing religious premises.
According to government sources, deputy commissioners have been instructed to organise the data-collection process, coordinate with local administrations, and ensure that every mosque urban or rural, large or small submits complete and verified information. The DCs are also expected to maintain checks on accuracy and resolve discrepancies before forwarding the data to the provincial government.
Senior official told Jang that the drive aims to modernise mosque records, streamline communication between the government and religious institutions, and support policy planning in areas such as urban development, community facilities, security coordination and welfare initiatives. Many mosques in the province have historically operated without formal documentation, and the new initiative is expected to address longstanding gaps in official records.
Once fully implemented, the registration campaign is expected to cover tens of thousands of mosques, making it a landmark administrative effort in Punjab’s governance history. Authorities describe the move as a step toward ensuring clarity, accountability and improved coordination regarding religious institutions across the province.
