KARACHI, April 9: The department of Zakat and Auqaf does not have any detailed record of the number of shrines and darghas in Karachi under government control or privately managed.

This fact came to the fore when Nasreen Chandio asked about the details through a question, but its answer was not received to the Sindh Assembly secretariat.

However, in reply to a question from Mohammad Ayaz Soomro, Sindh Minister for Zakat and Ushr Dr Irfan Gul Magsi said that Dargah Hazrat Mian Hamidullah Hazoori, Miro Khan (District Larkana) was not an Auqaf department property which was an abandoned building, including the century-old mosque which needed complete renovation and preservation, including the nearby graveyard.

The renovation scheme was approved in 1995 at a cost of Rs 1.335 million, but only Rs0.2 million were released by the federal government which were consumed by the commissioner of Larkana. The scheme was again revised and an amount of Rs1.882 million was required but as the government changed, the amount was approved.

In reply to a question from Shamim Ara Panhwar, the minister informed the house that an amount of Rs53.115986 million was released for District Zakat Committee, Mirpurkhas, between January and December 2002 and an amount of Rs22.893219 was disbursed among 712 Mustahqeen as Guzara allowance under the special rehabilitation package scheme.

He said all payments were made through crossed cheque in open katcheries under the supervision of the district government. To another question submitted by Mrs Shamim Ara Panhwar, Dr Magsi said Rs0.79 million were sanctioned from Zakat fund for marriage expenses of 79 poor women in 2003 in Mirpurkhas district.

In reply to a question from Ms Heer Ismail Soho, the minister informed the house that the chairman of district Zakat and Ushr committee was superseded by the provincial council of Sindh which is empowered to appoint district chairmen under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance 1980 in vogue.

To another question from Ms Soho, Dr Magsi said during the year 2001-2002 Rs56.986626 were distributed from Zakat fund till June 30, 2002 in nine Talukas of Thatta district.

In reply to Mrs Humera Alwani's question, the minister informed that in 55 union councils of seven Talukas of Thatta District, Rs72.722698 were disbursed from Zakat fund.

Dr Magsi informed the house, in reply to a question from Ms Nasreen Chandio, that the post of chairman, district Zakat and Ushr committee, Dadu, fell vacant due to resignation of the chairman. However, he said, it was not correct that Rs8 billion were disbursed as the total allocation for the entire district was less than that amount.

Giving details of the amount provided from the Zakat fund for scholarships, marriages and Qarz-i-Hasna, the minister replied to Ms Humera Alwani that there was no provision to grant Qarz-i- Hasna from Zakat fund.

However, he said, during the period from 2000- 03 in Ghora Bari Taluka, scholarships of Rs73,500, Rs380,458 and Rs 148608 were provided respectively while for marriage Rs85,000, 170,000 and Rs160,000 were disbursed.

In Ketti Bunder Taluka, scholarships of Rs25350, and Rs 9201 were provided and for marriage assistance only Rs70,000 were disbursed during year 2002-03. In Kharo Chhan Taluka, Rs15,450 and Rs2,697 were provided in year 2000-01 and 2002-03 while Rs30000 and Rs40000 were disbursed as marriage assistance during year 2000-01 and 2001-02 and in Taluka Mirpur Sakro Rs115400, Rs2566874 and Rs148767 were provided for scholarships while Rs13000, Rs110000 and Rs 140000 were disbursed as marriage assistance during 2000-01, 2001-2002 and 2002-03 respectively.