'Guzara' allowance cannot be disbursed to all deserving poor people due to lack of funds, PA told

KARACHI: Sindh Assembly Friday was told that the number of deserving poor people in the province is excessive and due to lack of funds 'Guzara' allowance cannot be disbursed among all of them.

The Assembly session commenced with recitation of Holy Quran and Naat Sharif with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair.

The floor of the house also experienced rumpus over Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim (Park) and other issues on the day.

Sindh Minister for Zakat and Ushr Syed Nasir Hussain Shah admitting said that presently the department is providing 'Guzara' allowance for around 85,000 deserving poor people whereas the number of them is excessive in the province and the department cannot provide allowance to all of them. He said that if the department receives more funds then it will increase the number of deserving people as well add some more amount to 'Guzara' allowance.

He further said that he accepts that the amount of 'Guzara' allowance Rs.1,000 per month is very meager and he will increase the same as his department gets extra funds.

Replying to another question regarding disbursement of funds to people who do not deserve the allowance and being given, he said that if a complaint was received to this effect action will be taken against responsible.

Nasir Shah replying to another question said that zakat funds are also given to help poor students to meet their expenses.

Answering another question, he said that no new programme was initiated during 2008 to June 2013. However, the mode of disbursement of 'Guzara' allowance to the registered mustehqeen-e-zakat was shifted from local zakat committees to biometric identification system through NADRA in the year 2012-13.

Adding that Rs.1000 is paid to every deserving person through NADRA..

He further said that stipend to deserving students for primary to middle level is Rs.300, high school Rs.500, Intermediate and Graduate level Rs.650, Engineering and medical college and engineering universities Rs.3,000 and postgraduate Rs.3,000.

Stipends for students of Deeni Madaris for Hifzo Nazra Rs.150, Mauqoofe ahle Rs.375 and Doure hadith Rs.750.

Indoor patients Rs.5,000 and outdoor patients Rs.3,000. Adding that marriage assistance to an unmarried women is Rs.20,000.

For rehabilitation Rs. 5000 grant or each deserving person and social welfare Rs. 500 to Rs. 700 per month per beneficiary.

Nasir Shah said that Rs.893.824 million fund was released by the federal government during 2013-14 as a share of this province.