For the needy: Rs71m distributed among hospitals, vocational schools

Sanaullah says the fund will enable many more students to obtain vocational skills

FAISALABAD: An event was held at the Government Vocational Training Institute, People’s Colony, on Monday where Zakat Fund cheques for Rs71.673 million were distributed among 28 public hospitals and vocational training institutes in Faisalabad Division.

The event was organised by Punjab Zakat and Ushr Department. Senior management officials of public hospitals and the vocational training institutes attended the event.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullh Khan was the chief guest. MNA Begum Khalida Mansur; MPAs Shaikh Ejaz Ahmad and Rashida Yaqub; Faisalabad, Jhang and Chiniot District Zakat Committees Chairpersons Nazeer Hussain Bajwa, Abida Bashir and Shaikh Ehsan Elahi; Zakat Deputy Administrator Mirza Abdul Waheed Baig, Zakat District Officer Ashraf Aasmi, Punjab Vocational Training Council Regional Manager Salman bin Zaid and Area Manager Malik Rafiq among others were present.

Sanaullah said the government had taken several steps for the welfare of the downtrodden. “Zakat funds are utilised through a transparent process for the welfare of deserving people.”

He said providing financial aid to students from Zakat Fund was an excellent idea. “The fund will enable many more students to acquire vocational skills and earn a decent living,” he said.

The minister said that the management of public hospitals and vocational training institutions was a custodian of zakat funds. He urged them to use the money carefully so that it could benefit those who really need them.

Abida Bashir said that Zakat Funds were being distributed through various welfare programmes under a transparent and fair system.

Later, cheques were distributed among senior officials of public hospitals and vocational training institutions.

Rs61.673 million  from the Zakat Fund was given to 14 vocational training institutions in Faisalabad division and Rs11.028 million to 14 public hospitals in Faisalabad division including Allied and DHQ Hospitals, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Government General Hospital Ghulam Muhammad Abad and Samanabad and other tehsil headquarters hospitals.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2015.