SWABI, Sept 5: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Zakat and Ushr Zar Shaid Khan has said that the ministry has allocated Rs1.15 billion for the help of flood affected people of the province.

Talking to reporters here on Sunday he said that a detailed data of the entire affected regions would be provided very soon to the ministry by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), after which the government would release funds to the flood-hit districts.

“We would ensure transparency in the distribution of the funds and avoid loopholes so that assistance reaches to the deserving people”, he said, adding, “There is no room for maneuvering from any one at provincial or district level. The entire system would be transparent and result-oriented”.

“The funds would be spent on the rehabilitation of the people who need help without any delay. The government has decided to leave no stone unturned in helping them,” he said.Answering a question he said that any district or region, which was worst affected, would get additional funds.

In addition, he said, the ministry has released Rs24.6 million as Eid grant for the impoverished people. The grant had already been given to each district zakat chairman who would hand over the amounts to the sub-chairmen for disbursement.

“It would be ensured that the deserving people get the grant before Eid enabling them to celebrate the festival,” he said.

Besides, the minister said that the government would release Rs147.4 million guzara allowance very soon, which would also be disbursed through local Zakat committees.

EID SHOPPING: The traders hoped on Sunday that the Eid shopping would gain momentum as the festival draws nearer, while consumers said that they did not have enough financial power to purchase various commodities for Eid.

The traders, however, admitted that unbridled hike in the prices of the commodities in Ramazan had weakened the financial power of the consumers. They maintain that the steep rise in prices has not only affected the salaried class but also the well-off people.

They said that during the initial days of Ramazan there was a rush in the tailoring shops as they did not accept late bookings.

A visit to shopping centres by this reporter revealed that roads and streets, ready-made garments shops, shoes, bangles, mehndi and cosmetics outlets were frequented by lesser number of consumers as compared to yesteryears.

“Gone are the days when the people waited for the Eid entire year to buy essential items for their families and children. When a person did not have the financial stability how could he do the Eid shopping according to his or her wishes,” said Sahib Zada, a shopper.