MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has decided to improve the collection and distribution system of Zakat and introduce reforms in seminaries for the collective good of society.

The government also decided to cut down the administrative costs of the institution dealing with collection and disbursement of Zakat with a view to channelling maximum collections into the welfare of the underprivileged persons.

The decisions were taken by Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas at a meeting on Sunday.

The prime minister was informed that at the moment the only source of Zakat fund was 2.5 per cent deduction from the saving accounts in commercial banks which was witnessing a gradual decline for long notwithstanding the increase in number of Zakat recipients, including individuals as well as institutions.

Meeting chaired by PM also decides to introduce reforms in seminaries

In the current year, Rs455.8 million were collected in Zakat fund, of which Rs185.3 million were distributed among the deserving individuals and institutions and the rest were spent on salaries and other administrative expenditures.

Calling for an immediate review of Zakat collection and distribution process, the prime minister asked the participants not to remain restricted to the income from banks but also convince and encourage affluent members of society to contribute to the official Zakat fund in view of its transparent disbursement to the persons suffering from different life-threatening diseases, needy students and seminaries, impoverished orphans and widows.

He observed that the existing amount of Rs3,000 given to each individual once a year through local Zakat committees was too less and directed to enhance it to eight to 10 thousand per annum.

However, those widows who solely relied on Zakat fund would be given Rs15,000 per annum instead of the exiting Rs3,000, he said.

Similarly, Rs12,000 dowry money for the poor or orphaned girls should be raised to Rs50,000.

Asking the officials to double the existing amount of technical education stipend for the needy students as well as food allowance for the seminary students from Zakat fund, the prime minister announced that his government would additionally directly provide a yearly grant of Rs400 million to the seminaries.He asked officials to ensure that the seminaries included science and arts subjects in their curriculum, apart from imparting one or the other skill to their disciples to increase their educational and professional capacity.

The meeting decided that while discretionary posts would be gradually abolished, about 326 permanent employees would also be gradually transferred to other departments and institutions as and when required to lessen fiscal burden on Zakat fund.

“While Zakat is among the pillars of Islam and purifies our yearly savings, its transparent disbursement is a big challenge which must be met as an equally important religious duty,” the prime minister said.

He also asked the officials to come up with a workable proposal to gradually shift from manual disbursement to digitalisation of this system to ensure transparency and accountability and negate political interference, if any.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2022