ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: The 83rd session of the Central Zakat Council under the chairmanship of Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, here on Saturday discussed the agenda items in order of priority which included Zakat budget 2001-2002.

The meeting approved Rs4.448 billion of which the component for the regular Zakat sectoral head was Rs210 million.

The council also approved a special Eid package of Guzara allowance worth Rs271 million for the distribution among 420,307 beneficiaries in the country.

An elaborate agenda including as many 30 proposals were presented to the CZC. Due to the shortage of time the heavy agenda of the meeting could not be finalized.

The council also issued special instructions to the ministry for religious affairs to ensure that funds for this package were released latest by Nov 26 and that all provincial Zakat departments including Islamabad, capital territory and Northern Areas will en-sure the disbursement of this amount before Eid-ul-Fitr positively so as to enable the Mustahiqeen to celebrate Eid.

At present 420,307 Mustahiqeen of Zakat are being paid Guzara allowances through 39,500 Zakat committees, all over the country. The council also approved the constitution of Islamabad Zakat and Ushr Committee.

The newly appointed members of the CZC and all the chief administrators of Zakat of the provinces attended the meeting.