KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to disburse the Zakat fund among its 85,000 beneficiaries through ATM cards without deduction of any service charges.

In this connection an agreement has been reached between the Sindh zakat department and Sindh Bank management to facilitate Zakat to the deserving.

The Sindh Bank would provide an ATM card to each beneficiary to help him/her draw instalment from any bank branch nearest to his/her residence and also during stay anywhere.

This decision was taken on Wednesday in a meeting held at the CM House, presided over by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the decision would ensure judicious and easy distribution of Zakat fund among the poor.

He said the organisation previously assigned distribution of Zakat fund had failed to come up to the expectations of beneficiaries as complaints were being received about difficulties being faced by people.

After consultation with different organisations, the Sindh government was able to convince the Sindh Bank management not to deduct any service charges from the principal amount of the Zakat fund.

The chief minister said the three per cent amount which previously had been provided to the organisation assigned for disbursement was saved and would be available for further distribution among the poor in the province .

Earlier, briefing the meeting, Zakat Secretary Ramzan Awan said his management previously had released Rs475.068 million to the entrusted organisation for six month installment of Rs6,000 to each beneficiary among total, 76,872 enrolled Mustehqeen, but the organisation could make it among 62,625 Mustehqeen.

He said the Sindh Bank would take at least three months to issue ATM cards among 85,000 registered beneficiaries and update its system for the upcoming distribution of Guzara allowance.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2014