Sindh government has decided to raise the issue of collection of Zakat by the province in Council of Common Interests (CCI), well-placed sources told Business Recorder . Federal government had devolved Zakat and Ushr along with other four ministries in first phase of devolution following the 18th constitutional amendment.
Soon after the devolution, Sindh assembly had passed a bill changing in act, The Sindh Zakat and Ushr Act 2011, after the assent of Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan. While, it is clearly mentioned in provincial Zakat act that subject to the other provisions of this act, Zakat in respect of assets mentioned in the first schedule of act shall be charged and collected by government of Sindh, on compulsory basis, for each Zakat year, at the rates and in the manner specified therein and as may be prescribed, from person who is on the valuation date and for whole of the preceding Zakat year been, Sahib-e-Nisab, and who owns or possesses such assets on the valuation dates.
Despite this, the hidden hands of Centre are creating hindrances in the way of Sindh government and they have stopped provincial government from collecting Zakat directly, sources told.
In this connection, Sindh Zakat and Ushr department is making the case of province while, the meetings between officials of Zakat and Ushr and law department are also continue to make the case legally sound, sources told. The meeting of CCI would likely be held in mid of August in which, this Zakat matter would be discussed along with some other inter-provincial issues, sources concluded.
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