KARACHI, Sept 5: A spokesman for the Sindh Zakat and Ushr Department, clarifying a newsitem published in Monday issue of Dawn captioned “Rs.2 billion of Zakat could not be disbursed,” has said that during financial year 2004-05, Rs1.04316 billion were released by the federal government under various heads of zakat disbursement.

Another Rs0.507 billion were in the balance with the province from the budget allocation of previous years.

The spokesman said that by Aug 31, Rs1.292 billion, out of total funds of Rs1.55016 billion, have been utilized by the district zakat and ushr committees.

It is evident that sufficient funds have been utilized in the province and the news item regarding non-utilization of Rs2 billion of zakat is not correct.

It is also expected that the remaining amount of Rs0.25816 billion, available with district zakat and ushr committees, shall be disbursed by Sept 30, the spokesman added.