Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah would raise the issue of collection of Zakat in the meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), being held in Islamabad on Saturday, August 27, sources told Business Recorder on Friday. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would chair the meeting ,while Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of all provinces would also attend the meeting.
According to the case made by Sindh government, Federal government has devolved Zakat and Ushr along with other four ministries in first phase of devolution following the 18th constitutional amendment. Soon after the devolution, Sindh government made the Sindh Zakat and Ushr Act 2011 to run all legal and administrative matters related to Zakat and Ushr department.
Sindh government would plead in the meeting that it is clearly mentioned in provincial Zakat act that subject to the other provisions of this act, Zakat in respect of assets mentioned in the first schedule of act shall be charged and collected by Government of Sindh, on 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.
Despite this, the hidden hands are creating hindrances in the way of Sindh government and they have stopped provincial government from collecting Zakat directly, case mentioned. Sources hoped that the CCI would find out the proper way to resolve this issue of collection of Zakat.
It is pertinent to mention here that more than 80,000 poor people of Sindh have not received the Eid allowance of provincial Zakat and Ushr department because Centre has not released the provincial share from Federal Zakat Fund to Sindh due to this issue of collection.
Sources told that Sindh government had also made its case regarding the non-transferred attached subjects, lands, buildings, plants, machinery, furniture and fixtures, equipment, transport and vehicles, funds and receivables of 17 devolved Federal Ministries but it would not be discussed this meeting of CCI. Moreover, the CCI would also decide the matter of rescheduling of census process. Chief Commissioner of Population census organisation and others would attend the meeting in this regard, sources concluded.