March 10, 2007	Saturday	Safar 20, 1428

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LAHORE, March 9: The opposition and some treasury members identified flaws in the zakat distribution system during general discussion on the Punjab Baitul Maal report for 2003 and 2004 submitted in the house in November last year.

Baitul Maal minister Ijaz Shafi began his speech while quoting figures from the report but was interrupted several times by the opposition, making him to promise that all demands raised in the house for the improvement of the system would be considered.

He admitted that the zakat funds were still inadequate and said the chief minister intended to increase them in the next budget.

MMA’s Arshad Baggu alleged that the discussion on the Baitul Maal report had been imposed all of a sudden because the law minister wanted to avoid the expected general debate on deteriorating law and order.

Opposition’s Javaid Siddiqui, Sagheera Islam, Perveen Mehmood Bhatti, Abida Javaid and Ehsanullah Waqas, and treasury’s Waris Kallo and Shazia Chand took part in the debate.

They demanded appointment of honest persons in the provincial zakat council and district committees, enhancement of funds and distribution of zakat only among deserving people.

Ms Abida Javaid demanded zakat funds for the wives of drug addicts and Ms Sagheera Islam wanted an inquiry to know whether the funds were being given to the deserving people or not.

Mr Waris Kalloo said a just distribution of zakat could have averted suicides or murders of poor people by blood relations.

Ehsanullah Waqas said a corrupt person had been appointed as zakat amin in Lahore. His name was included in the president’s list of the patrons of gambling and prostitution dens in Lahore.

PML-N MPA Ajasam Sharif created a stir in the house when he said if dowry was a curse then the government was promoting it by giving dowry funds. The session was adjourned till Monday afternoon.

APP adds: The minister told the house that the government had launched a project to computerise the lists of deserving people and process of distribution would be completed within a year.

He said lists of the deserving would be posted on the net, so that every one could see them. He said the computerisation would help ensure transparency.

Responding to objections from members, the minister said that condition of `Nikahnama’ for releasing marriage grant to the girls belonging to poor families was imposed to control the misuse of these grants.

The condition could be relaxed in case where notables of the area gave an assurance that the money would not be misused.

Shafi rejected objections from members that the criteria of recruitment of honest and committed people as heads and members of Baitul Maal committees and other such positions was not being fulfilled.

Treasury member Malik Ahmed Khan suggested that the problems of shelterless people should be redressed on a priority basis.

He said that he had lists of those who had to spend their nights at footpaths and under sheds.

SOLID WASTE: Replying to a question by Haji Ejaz, law and local government minister Raja Basharat said around 700 to 800 ton of garbage was daily dumped at Lahore’s Mehmood Booti Bund. A compost plant had been installed at the site which was producing fertilizer through it.

In response to a question by Ehsanullah Waqas, the minister said the city’s slaughterhouse lacked manpower. There was one doctor each for checking mutton and beef.

He said staff could not be hired because of a ban on recruitment. Several steps had been taken to improve sanitation in the slaughterhouse. A new and modern slaughterhouse was also being built outside the city limits, he said.

The minister agreed to a proposal by Mr Baggu that time limit should be introduced for repairing road cuts by the city district government.