Punjab govt releases Rs248m Zakat fund

Sources said Rs150.6 m released in the form of subsistence allowance for families living below the poverty line

RAWALPINDI:

The prayers of Zakat-deserving households of the Rawalpindi district were finally answered as the Administrator Zakat Punjab on Thursday released funds of more than Rs248 million after a hiatus of 16 months.

Sources said the marriage grant, which had been stopped since 2019 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, has also been released.

According to sources, the aid amount will be given to the Zakat-deserving households in eight instalments. Free surgeries including kidney dialysis and eye procedures will be resumed for deserving patients in public hospitals with the release of the Zakat funds, the sources said.

The sources said an amount of Rs150.6 million has been released in the form of subsistence allowance for families living below the poverty line.

Similarly, Rs9.9 million have been released in respect of the sustenance allowance of the blind people and an amount of Rs9 million has been released for the educational scholarships of talented children belonging to humble households.

Meanwhile, funds have also been released for the students of religious institutions. By restoring the closed marriage grant, Rs9.8 million have been released while a total of Rs1.2 million have also been released for the family support of leprosy patients.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2023.