Sindh government has, in principle, decided to raise the issue of collection of Zakat by the province at the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the officials concerned to make a comprehensive case in this regard, Business Recorder has learnt.
Well-placed sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that the Sindh government had taken this decision a few months ago but the case had not been made as yet by the officials of Zakat and Ushr Department. Recently, during a high-level meeting, Qaim had directed the concerned officials of Zakat and Ushr Department to make a comprehensive case as soon as possible as it could be tabled in the CCI meeting, sources said.
Federal government had devolved Zakat and Ushr along with other four federal ministries in the first phase of devolution following the 18th Amendment. Soon after the devolution, Sindh Assembly had passed the Sindh Zakat and Ushr Act 2011, in which it is clearly mentioned that "Subject to the other provisions of this Act, Zakat in respect of assets mentioned in the First Schedule of the Act shall be charged and collected by government of Sindh, on a 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," sources said. Meetings between officials of Zakat and Ushr and the Law Department are also continuing to make the case legally sound, sources added.