KARACHI, Nov 28: Governor Sindh Mohammedmian Soomro disbursed Zakat cheques worth Rs16.8 million among 662 people in a ceremony held for the purpose at the former deputy commissioner west office here on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion has said the government had made every effort to run the Zakat system with transparency. This year, he said, Rs860 million had been allocated as the Guzara allowance, out of which Rs430 million had been distributed.

He said an effort had been made to provide funds to district Zakat committees on the basis of district populations. He asked chairmen and members of district, Taluka and local Zakat committees to determine the privilege of a Zakat recipient by using all their capabilities so that the truly deserving people could benefit.

For this purpose, he said, monitoring teams had been formed at all levels which would not only prove helpful in maintaining the transparency of the system but also assist district and local committees in trying to find solutions to their problems.

He pointed out that a permanent rehabilitation fund of Rs10 to 50 thousand was provided to those who could manage a permanent livelihood for themselves. “So the committee members have the heavy responsibility of selecting such people,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, DCO Karachi Shafiqur Rehman Paracha informed that so far over Rs61.141 million had been distributed in district west and Rs6.338 million had been distributed under the Rozgar package. During the current financial year, he said, Rs34.667 million were to be distributed, out of which Rs17.902 million had already been distributed among 8369 recipients as the Guzara allowance and under the permanent rehabilitation scheme.

The DCO said that recently the government had ensured the distribution of Rs48.852 million among 8142 recipients and Rs2.485 million among 5133 poor students. He said Rs1.118 million were given to 282 persons under the permanent rehabilitation plan.

Nazim Karachi Naimatullah Khan, speaking on the occasion, lamented that the country was far from becoming a welfare Islamic state as recipients of Zakat had outnumbered donors.

However, he said, the present government had been making sincere efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger from the country, and the system of Zakat was streamlined to benefit the deserving people, specially widows and orphans.

He said that the current campaign against beggars in the city was an effort by the government to discourage professional beggars.

Chief Secretary Sindh, K.B. Rind, also attended the ceremony—APP/PPI