SKARDU, April 2: An amount of Rs20 million will be distributed among mustahqeen from Zakat fund in the five districts of Northern Areas, an official told Dawn here.

The administrator, Zakat and Usher Haji Quwat Jan said all out efforts were being made to complete the process of distribution of Zakat.

He said the fund had been released to district Zakat committees chairmen.

The scheme was approved by the Northern Areas Zakat Council at its meeting in Gilgit.

Mr Jan said that Rs10 to 35,000 each would be given for business to the deserving and needy persons who would be selected carefully by the chairmen of local Zakat committees.