ISLAMABAD: The government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has approved an increase in the monthly honorarium of the Qurra (Quran reciters). The decision in this connection was taken here on Monday during a high-level meeting of the Tajweed-ul-Quran Trust held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister (PM) AJK Faisal Mumtaz Rathore. Speaking on the occasion, PM Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said that promoting the education and recitation of the Holy Quran was one of his government’s key priorities. Highlighting the significant role of Quran reciters in society, the PM said they play a vital role in serving Islam. “The government will continue to take practical steps for their encouragement and welfare,” he added. The PM said that more effective steps will be taken for the proper education of the Holy Quran and the promotion of Tajweed through the Tajweed Trust. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Information, Religious Affairs, and Auqaf, Chaudhry Muhammad Rafiq Nayyar, while Chief Secretary Khushal Khan joined the meeting through a video link. The PM directed the concerned authorities to ensure early implementation of the decision to increase the honorarium of the reciters and to formulate a comprehensive strategy to further improve the performance of the trust. Meanwhile, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, addressing an Iftar dinner, has said the promotion of free, responsible, and constructive journalism in the liberated territory remains a key priority of his government. The Iftar dinner was attended by the All Kashmir Newspaper Society, the Kashmir Journalists Forum, and editors and journalists from print and electronic media. Rathore highlighted the media’s significant role in society, noting that it raises issues of public concern and serves as a bridge between the people and the government. The journalist community, he said, has always played a crucial role in bringing the facts to the public, even in difficult circumstances, and in promoting democratic values. The PM said the government was committed to further strengthening its relationship with the media. He said that practical measures were being taken to ensure the welfare of journalists and to address the problems faced by the community as a whole. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026