LARKANA, July 24: Payment of Zakat funds to destitute people has been stalled in Larkana district from November when District Zakat Committee chairman Syed Deedar Shah was removed from his position.

Sources confirming the situation on Tuesday said Shah was superseded on Nov 10, 2004 and since then the department had been deprived of this post. So far, Rs30.2 million meant for deserving people had been lapsed, said the sources. People are unable to receive the share they deserve as local committees determine the eligibility of deserving people.

Initially, the DCO Larkana extended the period of local committees for three months to function but neither after its expiry the extension came in nor was the new chairman appointed by the Sindh government.

Some two months back, the Sindh Chief Minister interviewed potential candidates for the slot from Larkana, Dadu and Qambar-Shahdadkot. Gada Hussain Mahisar ex-president Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association turned down the offer saying that it was a political post which he cannot afford to run, the sources told ‘Dawn’ here on Tuesday.

However two new faces in Dadu and Qambar-Shahdadkot were selected and tasked to look after the seat.

District Zakat Funds were regularly disbursed under the ‘Guzara allowance’ among 2,850 persons coupled with placing a handsome amount at the disposal of Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy (Linar).

Patients unable to afford expensive medicines were supported by this fund. Besides, Zakat funds were also being spent on education in schools, deeni madrsahs, dowry along with taking up rehabilitation cases, the local Zakat office said.

About 60 per cent share of the allocated amount placed at the disposal of District Zakat Office will go to the ‘Guzara allowance’ said the sources.

Now these poor patients were running here and there to get financial assistance for their treatment. ‘Linar’ annually receives Rs1.5 million to meet the needs of deserving patients, said the sources. The District Zakat Fund had been stopped since the chairman was removed while those patients relying on it were braving odd situation.

Appointment of the chairman was still not in sight which could linger on the sufferings of poor patients.