KARACHI, April 22: Sindh Minister for Zakat, Ushr and religious affairs Maulana Wali Razi on Monday deplored the sluggish distribution of Zakat among the needy in Sindh.

He was speaking at a ceremony to distribute cheques of permanent settlement scheme in which large amounts were given to the needy in single payments so that they can set up small businesses.

Wali Razi said most of the funds have been distributed in all the other provinces, but deplored that only 4.4 per cent of Rs470 million had been given to the needy in Sindh.

He blamed the zakat councils for this undue delay and said it was the only reason that because of complaints against them, all zakat committees have been dissolved.

During the current fiscal, about Rs487 million would be distributed among needy in defunct districts Malir and west.

About 100 needy belonging to former districts Malir and west were distributed cheques amounting to Rs10,000 to Rs40,000 by the minister.

DO General Administration Khawaja Shafiq Ahmed also spoke who highlighted the permanent settlement scheme.—PPI