ISLAMABAD: As the coronavirus (COVID-19) has aggravated the economic hardships of vulnerable segments of the society, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has appealed to the people to pay Zakat before Ramzan.

“Payment of Zakat ahead of Ramazan was permitted under Sharia principals,” the CII said in a communiqué issued by its research department on Friday.

The CII appeal said a large number of people including the daily wage labourers had been severely affected by coronavirus.

“The well off segments of the society who pay Zakat and give charities should come forward in the current crisis and help the needy and those charitable organisations who extend help to the poor,” the CII said.

The move is aimed at addressing people’s economic hardship aggravated by COVID-19, the council says

The council also suggested that to ensure that the grants reach the needy, those who can afford should form groups to help the disadvantaged and the poor.

Meanwhile, the Milli Yekjehti Council (MYC) too has issued a statement expressing confidence in the measures taken by the government and said that the clerics and religious groups should contribute in creating awareness among the people regarding threats of coronavirus.

“We request citizens to cooperate with the health experts and medical units involved in fighting the coronavirus,” the MYC said.

On the other hand, former cleric of Lal Majid Maulana Abdul Aziz said in his Friday sermon that it was against Sharia to shut down mosques and seminaries in the name of preventive measures against coronavirus.

To show that he did not accept the preventive measures suggested by the authorities, Maulana started meeting with the people who had come to pray. Later, the footage of his meeting with the people was released on social media.

Meanwhile, PTA has issued an advisery to cellular mobile operators (CMOs) and local loop operators directing them to remain fully prepared for provision of uninterrupted telecom services to the consumers.

It also directed them to ensure that necessary resources should remain available at all levels for smooth functioning of voice/data services and networks.

The operators should ensure that customers have access to their services and the CMOs should also coordinate with local authorities for functioning of franchises, top up outlets and communication networks in the affected areas, the advisery said.

They should resolve consumer complaints efficiently, with fully equipped teams, and issue awareness messages in national and regional languages about coronavirus.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) too has appealed to companies to extend financial help to agencies fighting coronavirus.

The SECP, as corporate sector regulator, had advised all companies to divert their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and budget for coronavirus prevention, detection and cure apart from generously contributing towards research and development activities related to the virus.

SECP invites attention of companies’ boards of directors toward their social responsibilities, enshrined in Section 204 (2) of the Companies Act, 2017.

“A director of a company shall act in good faith in order to promote the objects of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole, and in the best interests of the company, its employees the shareholders the community and for the protection of environment.’’

Companies are advised to take proactive measures to ensure effective contingency planning for financial and business continuity; mitigate health risks to employees, customers and communities.

They should prevent premises from becoming a node of COVID-19 transmission and ensure that adequate plans and means are in place.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2020