Islamabad, January 30, 2026 – In a significant move to promote religious unity, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, alongside prominent clerics, scholars from all schools of thought, and representatives from the business community, agreed on issuing a unified calendar for Azan and prayer timings.
The decision was finalized during a consultative meeting held on Thursday, chaired by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Yousaf recalled that uniform prayer and Azan timings had been introduced during a previous government but were later discontinued following administrative changes. “The current effort seeks to revive the initiative through consensus,” he said, emphasizing that the implementation in Rawalpindi and Islamabad would eventually extend its benefits to all four provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan.
The consultative session focused on standardizing Azan and congregational prayer times, providing valuable guidance for promoting congregational prayers across the country. Minister Yousaf also shared that the Ministry is working toward legislation to formalize a unified call to prayer and congregational system nationwide.
He affirmed that practical, balanced, and broadly acceptable steps would be taken to strengthen Pakistan’s prayer system, encourage unity within the Ummah, and foster religious harmony. The initiative marks a key milestone in efforts to streamline worship practices and ensure consistency in prayer observances across different regions of the country.
This unified calendar is expected to provide clarity for worshippers, reduce confusion over prayer timings, and enhance the collective spiritual experience in mosques nationwide.