The Sub-Committee constituted by Federal Cabinet for review of Zakat system has recommended to distribute resources of Zakat among provinces by giving priority to the neglected and backward areas.
The committee, in its meeting presided over by Minister for Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr, Syed Khurshid Shah discussed Zakat Ushr Ordinance, 1980 in detail and there was consensus opinion that the law was not in line with the present requirements and needed overhauling.
As per present law, Zakat funds are distributed among provinces on population basis. The committee opined that disbursement of Zakat on the basis of population is depriving the provinces having large-scale poverty.
Thus Balochistan and NWFP will get more funds than their share worked out on population basis. By and large, remaining within existing structure, representation of civil society in the Central Zakat Council is essential. Similarly structural changes may be made in the formation of Provincial Zakat Councils, District and Local Zakat Committees, it suggested.
Secretary, Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr, Vakil Ahmed Khan explained the background preceding the formation of Sub-Committee by the Cabinet. He added that in 2004, the Cabinet had constituted a Committee for review of entire Zakat System.
The recommendations of that committee were considered by the Cabinet in its meeting held on May 21, 2008 and observed them perfunctory in nature and therefore, decided to constitute another Sub-Committee with the task to review the Zakat System in totality. The Secretary informed the participants that the Punjab vocational training council is playing an important role in imparting vocational/technical training to deserving youth and thus making them self reliant.
The Provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan were advised to establish vocational training councils and training institutes there under on the pattern on Punjab vocational training council.
The minister for social welfare and special education stressed for greater collaboration between Zakat and Bait-ul-Mal and utilisation of each other database to avoid over-lapping in the disbursement of funds. The minister of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr assured holding the continuous meetings of the committee for finalisation of its report.
The Federal ministers for Social Welfare and Special Education, special assistant to the Prime Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Provincial Zakat ministers Federal Secretaries and Provincial Zakat Secretaries attended the meeting.