The opposition criticised the government during question hour in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday for not forming zakat and Baitul Maal committees in the province even though zakat is now a provincial subject.
Zakat and Ushr Minister Nadeem Kamran told the house that the federal government had earmarked Rs3.11 billion for the Punjab government for fiscal year 2009-10 in zakat funds, of which Rs570.5 million had been spent.
Answering a question from lawmaker Ali Haider Khan Niazi, Kamran said the Punjab government did not reserve funds for zakat, but the Federal Zakat Council made the zakat budget. The funds received from the federal government could not be distributed until zakat committees were formed and chairmen appointed, he said.
The minister said committees had been formed in 25 districts and the rest would be formed soon. He said the funds had not lapsed and would be spent. He said now that the Punjab government had this responsibility, it would amend the rules to improve the distribution of zakat.
Lawmaker Ehsanul Haq Ahsan Nolatia asked why the Baitul Maal had distributed only Rs800,000 to the poor in Bhalwal tehsil in two years. He said most of the funds were being spent on the salaries and expenses of officials and their offices.
Baitul Maal Minister Ehsanuddin Qureshi said this was not true, as the Social Welfare Department paid their salaries.
Seemal Kamran asked the minister why, if forming the committees was the prerogative of the Baitul Maal, names for the committees were being sent to Tauqir Shah, principal secretary to the chief minister.
Qureshi said names for Baitul Maal committees were being sought from district coordination officers and they would be finalised after scrutiny.
There was an interesting exchange between members of the PPP and PML-Q Unification Bloc. After Sheikh Allauddin tried to ask a supplementary question, PPP deputy parliamentary leader Shaukat Basra said the lawmaker belonged to the PMLQ, an opposition party, and under the rules, no opposition member could ask a supplementary to a government member’s question.
But PPP parliamentary leader Major Zulfiqar Gondal gave a different opinion to his deputy, stating that all members had the rights to ask supplementary questions.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2011.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ