ISLAMABAD, June 26: The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs on Saturday was informed that Rs66.95 billion was collected as Zakat from 1980 to 2003 and Rs65.12 billion was disbursed to the needy during the same period.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Maulana Samiul Haq here at the Parliament House on Saturday, was also informed that Zakat funds had been allocated to the provinces on population basis, says a press release.

The committee members were of the view that Shariat enjoined all well-to-do Muslims to pay Zakat and that the state was bound to arrange for the proper collection, disbursement and utilization of Zakat and Ushr.

The committee felt that the system of collection and disbursement of Zakat required to be improved with a view to ensuring that the poor could stand on their feet instead of relying on 'Guzara allowance'.

It decided to study the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) in this respect so as to formulate its recommendations for amending and improving the Zakat system.

The committee was given a detailed briefing on the organizational and administrative setup of Zakat system, composition and working of the central and provincial Zakat councils, district, Tehsil sub-divisional and local Zakat committees and also up to date position of central Zakat fund.

While reviewing the system of Ushr, the members of the committee expressed the view that only limited amount was collected as Ushr as the law in this regard seemed to be defective.