Schools, food centres to be set up from Zakat funds: Ijaz

Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr has decided to establish schools and food centres from Zakat funds to provide free education and food to the poor people in the country. Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq told mediapersons here after dispatching relief goods to quake-affected areas here on Wednesday.
He said that his ministry had sent a proposal to establish Darul Uloom (educational institutions) to provide free education to the children who cannot afford expenses for their studies. The proposal also includes, 'Taamul Masakeen' programme, under which kitchens and food centres would be set up at Tehsil level to facilitate deserving people.
"Darul Uloom and Taamaul Masakeen" programme would be financially assisted by Zakat and other charity funds," Ijaz said. Elaborating the Darul Uloom programme, the Minister said that educational and skill development institutes including vocational training centres would be established in both rural and urban areas of the country.
The "Taamul Masakeen" programme initially aims at setting up kitchens to cater to the food requirements of 10 million poor people in various cities. He said that ratio of collection of Zakat in Pakistan was highest in the world but these funds need to be properly utilised for rehabilitation of deserving people.
"Around Rs 70 billion Zakat contributed by philanthropists annually is spent on various charity programmes," he said, adding that these charity activities need to be co-ordinated under one umbrella.
The Minister was also of the view that criminals be punished in line with the provisions given in the Islamic Law. Ijaz said that Benazir Bhutto was seeking deal to become Prime Minister for the third time. Earlier, Ijazul Haq thanked International Islamic Relief Organisation (IIRO) on contribution of Iftar ration and other relief goods for quake-affected people and Afghan refugees.
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Ali Bin Saeed Awadh Asseri handed over 15 trucks carrying food material, blankets and tents to Pakistani authorities during the ceremony. Abuduhoo Muhammad Ateen, Director of IRRO in Pakistan, Dr Khalid Usman and others were also present on the occasion.