GILGIT, May 12: The Provincial Zakat Council has approved distribution of Rs60 million among 40,000 beneficiaries. The approval was made at a meeting chaired by Secretary Zakat, Ushr and Chairman of the Provincial Zakat Council, Mohammad Ali Yogvi.

Official sources said the meeting, which was also attended by district chairmen of zakat and other stakeholders, reviewed mechanism for distribution of zakat and stressed transparency to ensure that most deserving got the financial assistance.

PERFORMANCE OF POLICE: Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah has said despite the financial constraints the government has doubled the salaries and given all privileges to police force and now huge responsibility lies on its shoulders to protect lives and properties of citizens.

This was stated by him after decorating crown on the shoulder of first ever woman Superintendent of Police Ms Maria Taimoor on Saturday.

The chief minister said ensuring supremacy of law was the main duty of police.

The ceremony was also attended by ministers and senior police and administration officials.

The CM said black sheep would be expelled from the force to restore confidence of the masses in it.

“For the first time an effective mechanism of punishment and reward is being introduced in the force and all those who would perform well would be rewarded while those who are negligent shall be punished,” he told the gathering.

Mr Shah said police force was being equipped with sophisticated arms to enable it to deal with anti-state elements in a befitting manner.

Ms Maria is the first ever police officer who is promoted to the rank of superintendent of police.

Meanwhile, a delegation of PPP workers called on CM and informed him of the problems people were facing in the newly created district of Hunza.