Sameer Nazir
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that distribution of zakat among the poor and needy people is a great religious responsibility; therefore we have to be careful and responsible while distributing zakat among the registered deserving people.
This he said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of a Rs1 billion Guzara Allowance ATM cards scheme for Mustehkeen (Needy people) here at the Chief Minister House today. The ceremony was attended by Minister for Zakat & usher Dost Mohammad Rahimoo, Chairman Sindh Zakat Council Justice (retd) Zahid Qurban Alvi, President Sindh Bank Bilal Shaikh, Chairman District Zakat Committee Karachi East Mr Khalid Lateef and other senior concerned officers.
The chief minister said that the government was releasing over Rs1.34 billion in the head of zakat every year. “The old zakat distribution system was fraught with loopholes. That’s why taking a practical step we decided to distribute zakat among the registered needy through ATM cards. I think it would be a good step in the interest of the needy people,” he said.
The chief minister giving beak up of the zakat funds said that the government has released Rs1 billion for guzara allowance for 83,000 registered needy people. Apart from it Rs214.8 million for education stipend, Rs20 million for stipend to Deeni madares, Rs47.3 million to hospitals for health care, Rs27.8 million for rehabilitation, Rs5 million for education foundation and Rs33.1 million for marriage assistance.
Minister for Zakat & Usher Dost Mohammad Rahmoo said that earlier the guzara allowance distribution was entrusted to NADRA but they had a few centers which caused problems for the needy people. “Now, it has been given to Sindh Bank which has issued ATM cards. This is a transparent system,’ he said.
President Sindh Bank Mr Bilal Shaikh said that he had issued ATM cards to needy people for payment of gurzara allowance at the rate of Rs6000 for six months. These cards are totally free. “We do not charge commission or services charges,” he said.
Chairman Zakat Committee Karachi East Khalid Lateef thanked the chief minister for taking his personnel interest in the proper distribution of zakat funds. “It is the efforts of the chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah that the distribution of zakat was first made through NADRA and then through Sindh Bank,” he said and added that this initiative has made the system transparent.
On the occasion the chief minister distributed guzara allowance ATM cards among the deserving and needy women present on the occasion. The President Sindh Bank taught the women how to use the ATM card.
CM launches Rs1 bn zakat ATM card distribution System
