Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs has asked Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) to identify Zakat deductible assets to overcome the expected short fall of Rs 5.5 billion in this regard. The committee met with its Chairman Maulana Sami-ul-Haq at Agriculture House here on Saturday.
Senators Afia Zia, Kalsoom Perveen, Dr Khaliq Pirzada, Maulvi Agha Muhammad, Dr Khalid Ranjha, Muhammad Abbas Komaili, Punjab Zakat and Ushr Minister Khadim Hussain Wattoo, Federal Religious Affairs Secretary Vakil Ahmed Khan, Punjab Zakat and Ushar Secretary Tauqir Ahmad Faiq and other officers concerned were also present.
Vakil Ahmed told the meeting that ministry had been receiving around Rs 4 billion for the last four years but distributing Rs 9.5 billion every year. About additional Rs 5.5 billion amount, he said the ministry had been utilising Rs 22 billion grant that it had under Zakat head when the present government took over, and now this Zakat grant had been utilised.
He warned that now government had no option except to expand the Zakat collection mechanism, citing that currently the collection is made through savings and financial instruments only. He said CII should identify the assets that could be subjected to deduction of Zakat.
The Senate committee fully endorsed the suggestion, citing that non-expansion of Zakat collection would deprive many needy people of this facility. They were also agreed in recommending to increase the Guzara Allowance under Zakat from Rs 500 to at least Rs 1,500.
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