RAWALPINDI, April 15: The government is working on a plan to widen the scope of Zakat Fund, the federal minister for religious affairs, Dr Mehmood Ahmad Ghazi, said here on Monday.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a cheque-distribution ceremony held at the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club.

The minister said the Zakat fund would be increased to Rs10 billion next year from the existing Rs5 billion.

This is being done to provide assistance to more deserving people to bring them into the mainstream of the society, he said.

As such, the allocation for the deserving people in Rawalpindi will also be doubled, i.e. Rs120 million from the existing Rs50 million. It will also cover those people who remained deprived of Zakat due to low allocation, he added.

Mr Ghazi said apart from the increase in allocation, some other structural changes were also on the cards, which include raising the perks and privileges of the Zakat officials.

He stressed on the philanthropists and well-to-do to pay Zakat regularly which would not only help the poor stand on their feet but also cleanse their wealth.

Talking to reporters, he condemned the manhandling of journalists by the police at Gen Musharraf’s referendum rally in Faisalabad.

He said an inquiry should be held and those police personnel who were involved in baton-charge on reporters should be taken to task.

When asked about the role of the press regarding referendum, he said generally newspapers were playing a positive role in the campaign, but alleged that some were showing irresponsible attitude.

Later, he distributed cheques worth Rs10 million among those people who were displaced due to the expansion project of the Leh Nullah.