Malik Nadeem presides over a meeting of Chairmen of District Zakat Committees

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Zakat & Ushr, Malik Nadeem Kamran has said that all District Chairmen Zakat Committees are authorized to inspect vocational training institutes in their respective areas and should immediately report if any irregularity is detected so that action be taken against the persons involved.

He was addressing a meeting of Chairmen of District Zakat Committees of the whole province, here today. Secretary Zakat & Usher Habib ur Rehman Gillani, Administrator Zakat, Chairmen District Zakat Committees and concerned District Officers Zakat were present on the occasion.

The Minister said that the courses conducted for deserving boy and girl students at vocational training institutes and the courses arranged at other private institutions will be got evaluated by Punjab Information Technology Board. He said that third party audit of the amounts given from zakat fund to these vocational institutes will also be arranged.

Malik Nadeem Kamran stressed upon newly elected chairmen to closely study Zakat Act so that they could know about their responsibilities and authorities. He said that a summary is being prepared for regularization of zakat paid staff and field clerks and its approval will soon be obtained. He said that increase in monthly scholarships of the students studying in district madaris is also being considered. He said that all chairmen should strictly scrutinize the scholarships being given to deserving students of educational institutions of their respective areas as information has been received that higher amount than the number of mustahqeen is being given to educational institutions under this head.

He further said that rehabilitation of mustahqeen is the top priority of the government and under the new scheme, a sum of Rs. 50 thousand to two lakh is being given to boy and girl students who have completed vocational training.

The Minister also stressed upon chairmen to keep a close contact with the philanthropists of their respective areas to motivate to donate generously to the zakat account of the department. He said that letters are also being written to DCOs asking them to extend all out help to concerned chairmen and District Officers Zakat.

The Minister further said that in order to facilitate Mustahqeen in receiving financial assistance from Zakat fund, Zakat department is being organized with the demands of present age. He further said that the purpose of convening the meeting was to exchange the experiences and gain knowledge about problems, so that the system of provision of zakat could be further improved.

The chairmen apprised the Minister of the problems being faced during the performance of their duties, upon which, the Minister assured resolution of their problems.