BAHAWALPUR, June 30: A sum of Rs58.6 million has lapsed only in two government departments — zakat and health — due to the negligence of the officials concerned. It is learnt here that the department of Zakat and Ushr failed to disburse among the deserving people Rs53.6 million during the financial year 2004-05 which ended on Thursday. Similarly, Rs5 million earmarked by the Punjab government for the improvement of Ahmadpur East tehsil headquarters hospital could not be utilized due to lack of interest of the officials of district accounts office and executive district officer (EDO) health, Bahawalpur.

District Zakat and Ushr Committee chairman Malik Ahmad Nawaz, in a handout issued here the other day, confirmed the lapse of funds.