LAHORE, Feb 18: The Punjab Zakat Council will distribute Rs2.8 billion among 125,000 deserving people during the current financial year under the Permanent Rehabilitation Scheme.

The council has already distributed Rs1.4 billion among 60,000 deserving people this year to enable them to start small-scale businesses for earning a livelihood instead of depending on zakat subsistence. Every person is being provided a one-time financial assistance of Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 for the purpose and struck off the list of deserving persons.

Grants ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000 can be provided to the deserving people under the scheme. All grants under the scheme are provided on the recommendations of one of over 25,000 local zakat committees established at the ward level in town areas and patwar circle level in the rural areas in the province.

A maximum 5,851 deserving people have been rehabilitated in the province in Faisalabad district during the current financial year and provided Rs104.359 million. Lahore district has been the second largest recipient of the assistance with 4,095 people getting a total Rs92.085 million. A minimum number of people have benefited from the scheme in Khushab. Only 316 people have received Rs6.877 million there.

Rahim Yar Khan and Jhang districts have been the third and fourth largest recipients of the assistance under the scheme where 3,326 and 3,014 deserving people have been permanently rehabilitated after being paid a total Rs60.482 million and Rs54.673 million, respectively. As many as 3,061 people have received assistance totalling Rs59.633 million in Multan district and 2,980 people have been provided Rs64.651 million in Rawalpindi district.

The council provided Rs56.856 million to 2,601 people in Sheikhupura district and Rs37.446 million and Rs20.937 million to 2,582 and 2,561 people in Muzaffargarh and Chakwal districts, respectively. As many as 2,034 people were given Rs39.506 million in Sialkot district, 1,790 people Rs32.979 million in Gujrat district and 1,712 people Rs30.094 million in Vehari district.

Assistance totalling Rs38.547 was provided to 1,647 people in Sargodha and Rs32.598 million to 1,630 people in Kasur district. An assistance of Rs35.433 million was paid to 1,583 people in Sahiwal district and Rs33.804 million to 1,524 people in Bahawalpur district. As many as 1,647 people were given Rs36.547 million in Sargodha district, 1,447 people Rs32.198 million in Okara district and 1,422 people Rs31.111 million in Toba Tek Singh district. Grants totalling Rs29.947 million were provided to 1,385 people in Khanewal district and Rs18.961 million to 1,318 people in Pakpattan district. Another 1,289 people were granted Rs20.897 million for permanent rehabilitation in Bahawalnagar district and 1,263 people Rs49.193 million in Gujranwala district. A sum of Rs15.123 million was distributed among 1,192 people in Mianwali district and Rs15.308 million among 957 people in Narowal district.

Grant totalling Rs16.969 million was provided for permanent rehabilitation of 872 people in Mandi Bahauddin district and Rs17.044 million to 843 people in Lodhran district. As many as 963 residents of Jhelum district were provided Rs18.141 million and 821 residents of Attock district received grants totalling Rs17.778 million. As many as 736 people were provided Rs23.648 in Dera Ghazi Khan and 728 people in Hafizabad district were given Rs15.808 million. Another 689 people in Bhakkar district were given Rs15.088 million, 678 people in Rajanpur district received Rs16.012 million and 485 people in Layyah district received Rs8.597 million for permanent rehabilitation.

As many as 62,254 people had been rehabilitated in the province during the last financial year and provided Rs1,139 million.