HARIPUR, Jan 22: A large number of widows, orphans and elderly people of Haripur have complained that they are facing problems in getting their Zakat fund cheques cashed from the banks due to certain flaws in the Zakat disbursement system.

The district Nazim had directed the local Ushr and Zakat department to disburse Rs5 million on account of Zakat among the needy before the Eidul Fitr.

Officials of local banks, when asked about the problems facing the deserving people, held the Zakat officials responsible for the obstacles in the way of getting the cheques cashed.

They said the Zakat authorities issued cheques in the names of the deserving people without taking into account whether a recipient was elderly, ailing or underage. The payee not only had to open bank account but also take photograph, which was an extra burden on the destitute people, a bank manager told Dawn.—Our Correspondent