The Punjab Social Welfare Department has released Rs 100 million for the newly-revived district Baitul Maal Committees across the province to provide financial assistance to destitute, orphans and other deserving sections of society, Punjab Social Welfare and Women Development Secretary Major (r) Shahnawaz Badar said on Sunday.
He said that 31 district Baitul Maal committees out of 39 have been revived while the process of re-constitution of the remaining committees in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Bhakkar was in progress and likely to be notified in third week of July. Shahnawaz said that a high-level meeting in this regard has already been convened to finalise the names of office-bearers of the remaining committees on top priority.
The secretary said that when the CM was informed about the non-functioning of committees, he issued directions to reactivate them forthwith to ensure immediate financial assistance to the needy and deserving people. Shahnawaz said that the divisional commissioners, DCOs, officers of the social welfare, women development and other dignitaries had been directed to recommend names of people with high integrity and excellent repute in their areas as members of the committees.
The secretary said that the committees would work directly under the provincial Baitul Maal Committee headed by an ‘amin’ appointed by the Punjab government for a period of three years. He said that earlier, these committees after expiry of their three-year term had become non-functional.