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| May 26, 2003 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 23,1424 |
Rs20bn accumulated in Zakat Fund
ISLAMABAD, May 25: An amount of about Rs20 billion has been accumulated in the Central Zakat Fund as a result of collection of about Rs4 billion a year.
Nusratullah Khan, senior joint secretary of Zakat and Usher division of the religious affairs ministry, told this reporter that despite such a huge accumulation, they had prepared some plans to utilize these funds. He said, as a first step, Rs2 billion had been disbursed, whereas plans were in the offing to utilize another Rs5 billion.
He said those having a monthly income of Rs670 or more were not considered Mustahequeen (deserved).
“Mustahequeen get Rs500 every month and this amount had been raised from Rs300. The planning division determines the poverty line,” he said.
Mr Khan said rehabilitation included one time grant, ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs30,000, for the purchase of tools/accessories to start small businesses so that the indigent could become self- reliant.
He, however, agreed that there were deficiencies in planning and execution of Zakat fund distribution, which needed improvement.
The Central Zakat Council is the policy-making body which controls the Zakat funds collected through financial and other institutions. The council also prepares various schemes for the disbursement of Zakat for subsistence and rehabilitation.
Disbursement for rehabilitation and a large number of educational stipends are also provided through Zakat fund to poor students through religious institutions (Madaris) as well as other educational and professional institutions. Funds are also provided for the treatment of the poor at hospitals.
When asked if such huge accumulation of Zakat fund was in accordance with the Islamic principles, some of the International Islamic University faculty members, including Dr Abdul Raheem Ashraf Baloch, assistant professor; Dr Sohail Hasan Abdul Ghaffar, head and associate professor of Uloom-ul-Quran Wa Al- Hadith Unit and assistant professor Dr Ismatullah considered it unIslamic.
It was also learnt that some time ago the president of Pakistan had advised the Central Zakat Council to plan for maximum utilization of Zakat fund. In the wake of such directives, non-utilization of these funds is tantamount to criminal neglect, lack of planning and inefficiency, the IIU scholars said.
“The amount of Rs500 as subsistence grant per month is very low, considering the cost of living and the rise in inflation, while huge amounts are lying with the council,” they added.
One of the scholars said the government was equally responsible for not checking the functions of Central Zakat Council.
Zakat cannot be spent on public utilities, salaries of government servants or on developmental activities, Dr Ismatullah said. According to the principle of Shariat, Zakat should be given in a way that it becomes the property of the recipient. It is called the principle of Tamleeq, he added.
Another scholar from the IIU told this reporter that the rationale behind the reserve fund was to rehabilitate Mustahequeen in case of eventualities like floods, earthquakes and other disasters. But, the huge accumulation of more than Rs20 billion cannot be justified in any way or by any religious logic.
One senior official said eversince the Zakat and Usher Division was detached from the finance ministry and made part of the religious affairs ministry, deterioration had set in.
The services of the officers and staff of Zakat and Usher Division were utilized in arranging Seerat conference, Haj and other activities.—Jamal Shahid
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