KARACHI: A motivational lecture by a religious scholar was organised for customs officers at the auditorium of the directorate general of training and research in Customs House here on Monday morning.

Renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil delivered the lecture on ‘Morality and Ethics and Public Service Delivery’, organised by the Federal Board of Revenue.

In his early 60s and a member of the Tableeghi Jamaat that subscribes to the Deobandi school of thought, Maulana Jamil is a well-known orator.

The FBR had issued a communication (C.No: 152879/S (HRD)/2014) from Islamabad on May 14. It was addressed to all chief commissioners, chief collectors, and directors general so that they could inform their subordinate officers about the lecture.

A few customs officers, who had been in service for five to 15 years and with whom the reporter spoke, said that this was the first time such a lecture was organised by the customs here.

Responding to Dawn queries, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairperson Zohra Yusuf said that religion should not be introduced into state affairs.

She said the topic was relevant but she would have preferred if some technically qualified professional was invited to give the lecture. She said that morality and ethics should be linked to humanity and not to religion. She said that she would also have preferred if some professional relating to the field of the customs was called to lecture so that the customs officers would have sharpened their professional skills.

This, however, was not the first time that the government had invited a religious scholar to lecture government officials. Over a decade ago former chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim also used to arrange lectures of Maulana Tariq Jamil at CM House for the secretaries to the government, departmental heads and other high-ranking government officials during his tenure, remembered a former forests and environment secretary Shams-ul-Haq Memon while talking to Dawn.

He said that usually on Fridays after every two to three months officers were invited to CM House to listen to the lecture, offer prayers and then meet the chief minister.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2015

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