Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that distribution of zakat among the poor and needy people is a great religious responsibility but they have to be careful and responsible while distributing it among the registered deserving people.
He said this while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Rs 1 billion guzara allowance ATM cards scheme for mustehkeen (needy people) at the Chief Minister House on Saturday. The ceremony was attended by Minister for Zakat & Usher Dost Mohammad Rahimoo, Chairman Sindh Zakat Council Justice (r) Zahid Qurban Alvi, President Sindh Bank Bilal Shaikh, Chairman District Zakat Committee Karachi East Khalid Lateef and other senior officers.
The chief minister said the government was releasing over Rs 1.34 billion under the head of zakat every year. “The old zakat distribution system was fraught with loopholes. That’s why taking a practical step we decided to distribute zakat among the registered needy through ATM cards. I think it would be a good step in the interest of needy people,” he said.
The chief minister giving break up of the zakat funds said that the government had released Rs 1 billion for guzara allowance for 83,000 registered needy people. Apart from it, Rs 214.8 million for education stipend, Rs 20 million for stipend to deeni madrassas, Rs 47.3 million for hospitals, Rs 27.8 million for rehabilitation, Rs 5 million for education foundation and Rs 33.1 million for marriage assistance.
Minister for Zakat & Usher Dost Mohammad Rahmoo said that earlier the guzara allowance distribution was entrusted to NADRA but they had a few centers which caused problems for the needy people. “Now, it has been given to Sindh Bank which has issued ATM cards. This is a transparent system,” he said.
President Sindh Bank Bilal Shaikh said he had issued ATM cards to the needy people for payment of gurzara allowance at the rate of Rs 6,000 for six months. These cards are totally free. “We do not charge commission or services charges,” he said.
Chairman Zakat Committee Karachi East Khalid Lateef thanked the chief minister for taking his personnel interest in the proper distribution of zakat funds. “It is the efforts of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah that the distribution of zakat was first made through NADRA and then through Sindh Bank,” he said, adding that this initiative had made the system transparent.
On the occasion, the chief minister distributed guzara allowance ATM cards among the deserving and needy women present on the occasion.
