MALAKAND, Oct 3: The NWFP minister for Zakat, Ushr and religious affairs, Qari Roohullah Madani, announced here on Thursday that the Zakat and Ushr department had adopted a new strategy for the distribution of Zakat in the province.

Under the plan, a sum of Rs17 million was being distributed among the poor for their rehabilitation in the Malakand district during the current year, he said, speaking at a cheque distribution ceremony at the Tor Mor Rest House here.

Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah was chief guest of the ceremony, which was attended among others by District Nazim Muhammad Hamayun Khan and town Nazimeen and councillors.

The minister lauded the governor’s role in reforming the Zakat system, which, he hoped, would enable the poor to stand on their own feet.