ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: The Central Zakat Council (CZC) on Saturday considered reactivating a sub-committee earlier constituted to propose amendments to the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance, 1980.

Experts say the ordinance has failed to achieve any of its objectives, including elimination of poverty and beggary and creation of a welfare state.

The CZC said that it would study and, if appropriate, might consider recommendations of the sub-committee about changes in the ordinance.

Two more members -- Abdul Waheed Qazi and Lt-Gen (retd) Chaudhry Sardar Ali -- were included in sub-committee.

“Re-deliberations of the sub-committee will be submitted for consideration of the CZC in the next meeting,” said an official statement.

Presiding over the meeting, CZC Chairman M. Javed Buttar said the council was manly concerned with Zakat funds and a decision in this respect should be taken carefully to improve the existing system.

The meeting expressed concern over a decline in Zakat collection and called for efforts to increase it.

The council said that any change in the ordinance must revive the confidence of people in the Zakat collection and distribution system.

It said the process of setting up of local Zakat committees in Punjab must be completed in one month to enable them to disburse Zakat to needy and deserving people.

The meeting reviewed requests of Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan and Sughra Shafi Medical Hospital in Narowal for Zakat grant and formed committees to examine them.

It also discussed the issue of regularisation of services of “Zakat-paid” contract employees and asked the provinces to submit to it detailed financial implications of their respective employees on the Zakat fund.

The council approved recommendations of a committee constituted by the CZC to adjust claims of Rs26.677 million against the expenditure incurred by the Fatmid Foundation during the period between 2003-04 and 2007-08.