RAWALPINDI, Nov 12: The Punjab government will double the Baitul Mal funds from next year so as to benefit the poor and deserving people , sources said. The sources said the Punjab chief minister had issued special directives in this regard.

About 3 per cent of the total Baitul Mal amount will be earmarked for those poor women, who receive burn injuries incidentally, they added, They said the main purpose of this increase was to root out poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. Besides, many other plans aimed at abolishing poverty from the province are also underway, an official of social welfare department said.

The sources said according to the chief minister's directives, those Baitul Mal personnel, who would found involved in any kind of irregularity, would not only be summarily sacked but also subjected to disciplinary action.