August 25, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 22, 1429

KHAIRPUR, Aug 24: Sindh Minister for Zakat and Ushr Sajid Jokhio on Sunday appealed to chief minister to try to get more than Rs1 billion of Sindh’s share in Zakat and Ushr funds which, he said, had been withheld by the federal government.

The minister said at a collective marriage ceremony organised by the Zakat and Ushr Committee of Khairpur in the grounds of Shah Hostel that the record of Zakat and Ushr Department would be computerised and hepatitis-C vaccines would be provided from Zakat funds in all districts of the province.

He claimed that leaders, workers and supporters of the Pakistan People’s Party had been the worst sufferers under the nine-year rule of dictatorship in the country.

He said that Zakat funds were disbursed among the rich on political grounds instead of the poor and the needy under previous governments but now only the poor and deserving people would benefit from the fund.

The minister congratulated the 170 couples who tied the knot that day and said that the government would soon take measures to curb price hike and provide 50,000 jobs to unemployed youths on merit.

He claimed that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari forced Musharraf to resign and expressed the hope that Mr Zardari would be elected president of the country on Sept 6.