LAHORE, July 20: The Zakat distribution will remain suspended in the Punjab for the next three to four months pending the elections of 25,200 new local zakat committees.

The distribution has been suspended at present because the provincial Zakat councils cannot distribute their unutilized funds after June 30 and the funds sanctioned by the central Zakat council in its meeting held on June 28 for distribution till December 31 are yet to be transferred to the provincial Zakat councils. Funds remaining unutilized in provinces by June 30 have to be returned to the central council under the rules.

The Zakat distribution is not likely to be resumed by the provincial councils immediately despite the receipt of funds from the central council because the funds are required to be transferred to 34 district committees for distribution among 25,200 local committees for the purpose.

The local Zakat committee which determines the eligibility of the 'mustahqeen' (deserving persons) have been dissolved following the expiry of their three-year term and the new committees are yet to be elected.

The district Zakat committees responsible for holding the elections of the local committees have also been dissolved after the completion of their three-year term and the new ones are yet to be constituted.

The provincial Zakat council has notified the names of the new chairmen of the 34 district committees and the names of others members are expected to be selected and notified from amongst those proposed by them sometime during the next month.

The district committees will in turn hold the elections of the local committees by December 31 at the latest. The local committees are the most important in the Zakat distribution system because these bodies not only distribute funds but also determine the 'istehqaq' (eligibility) of any person.

The provincial Zakat council is empowered to appoint administrators for distribution in the absence of committees, but the provincial government has decided to wait for the elections of local committees to this effect.