Following devolution of Federal Zakat and Ushr Ministry to the provinces, Sindh government has initiated launching of new schemes of Zakat for the poor people. Provincial Zakat and Ushr Department will launch two new schemes - "Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Schemes" - from the mid of August 2012.
Informed sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday that the experts of Zakat and Ushr Department have designed these new schemes which were approved by Sindh Zakat Council in its meeting held a few weeks back. The copies of new schemes obtained by BR stated that: Social Welfare Institutions working as NGOs (or Civil Society Organisations ie CSOs) shall not be eligible for Zakat grant being recipient of financial assistance from other governmental sources of donors.
However, Social Welfare institutions registered duly under relevant laws shall only be entitled for Zakat grants. One-time grant up to Rs 5000 (Rupees Five Thousand Only) may be provided for rehabilitation of Mustehiq whose name be struck off from the list of Mustehqeen, it further stated. No less than 25 percent of funds allocated to this head of Zakat scheme shall be utilised on Rehabilitation and the remaining 75 per cent on beneficiaries of Social Welfare Institutions (SWIs). However, Sindh Zakat Council may in exceptional circumstances, allocate/transfer funds from Social Welfare to Rehabilitation and vice versa, according to needs in consultation with District Zakat Committee, it added.
Funds for Rehabilitation shall be disbursed by District Zakat Committee in such a way that at least one beneficiary from every local Zakat committee accommodated within the available budget. Local Zakat committees shall then be selected alphabetically to the extent of funds available. The remaining local Zakat committees shall be allocated their share in the next budget and on so forth. In such cases, the disbursement shall be by rotation, the document revealed.
Due priority shall be assigned in releasing funds requested for the rehabilitation of a deserving person. Zakat assistance would also be provided through Social Welfare Institutions which would be registered by the Federal Government/Provincial Government, the document concluded.
Comments
Comments are closed.