QUETTA, Feb 8: Balochistan government has earmarked over Rs102 million from Zakat fund for drought-affected people in the province under the rehabilitation package for drought-stricken areas.

This was revealed in a meeting held here on Thursday. The meeting, presided over by the governor Justice (retd) Amirul Mulk Mengal, reviewed the distribution of Zakat in the province.

The meeting was told that the government had allocated Rs102 million for drought-stricken people, of which Rs50 million had already been disbursed.

The governor expressed his dissatisfaction over the slow pace of the distribution of funds. He said that deserving people should be provided financial assistance before Eid.

Under the package Rs10,000, to 50,000 would be given to each deserving family to start small businesses.

Earlier in the day, the governor told the Zamindar Action Committee delegation that the provincial government had paid Rs2.5 billion to Wapda towards electricity bills pending against the growers.

The governor asked the growers to pay Rs4,000 every month towards their electricity bills as per the agreement reached between them and Wapda.

Referring to the subsidy on electricity bills, he said that negotiations were in progress at the federal level, and a meeting is expected to be held in Islamabad after Eid.