Thousands denied Zakat amid 'funding gap'

The Zakat Department will not provide financial assistance to registered low-income families and widowed women across the Rawalpindi Division on the occasion of Eidul Azha, following the suspension of similar payments during Eidul Fitr amid an acute financial crisis.

More than 30,000 registered beneficiaries across the six districts of the Rawalpindi Division - including Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang and Jhelum - have been deprived of Zakat assistance for the past 14 months.

Officials confirmed that due to severe financial constraints, no special Eid grant would be distributed this Eidul Azha, leaving thousands of deserving families in distress.

Over the past 14 months, the District Zakat Councils have also reportedly failed to issue scholarships to underprivileged students or provide financial support to families of visually impaired individuals and leprosy patients.

In addition, free medical treatment, surgeries and kidney dialysis services for poor patients at government hospitals have remained suspended for the last two years and two months because Zakat funds were not released.

Under the previous system, eligible families received monthly financial assistance of Rs2,000 either every month or every quarter, while special Eid grants ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs12,000 were traditionally disbursed on Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha.

Officials said the last such payment was made during Eidul Fitr 2025. Since then, no financial aid has been provided to beneficiaries or widowed women owing to the ongoing funding crisis.

Large numbers of women reportedly visit Zakat Council offices daily but return disappointed after being informed that no funds are available.

At present, all six districts of the Rawalpindi Division, including Rawalpindi District, have been without permanent chairpersons of District Zakat Councils for the past two years, while several positions in other districts have remained vacant for nearly three years.

Authorities said there are 1,166 union councils in Rawalpindi District and approximately 3,500 local union councils across the division. These local Zakat committees were dissolved two years ago upon completion of their terms and are currently being run by temporary administrators.

Affected beneficiaries, including Ruqaiya Bibi, Sakina Begum and Gulfraz Bibi, said they had repeatedly visited Zakat Council offices since Eidul Fitr but had received no assistance.

According to the women, office staff informed them that payments would be transferred through Easypaisa once funds became available.