Massive irregularities detected in disbursement of Zakat funds

KARACHI: Massive irregularities and misappropriations have been revealed in the deduction and subsequent disbursement of Zakat funds.

The funds are being used for political purposes rather than the welfare of the needy and deserving. Well-placed sources informed that Rs8 million have been handed over  to pharmaceutical companies from Zakat funds at public hospitals meant for the treatment of needy patients.

Furthermore, it has been revealed that Rs380 million have been handed over under bogus names of patients. It has become a common practice to deduct from Zakat funds on the pretext of providing free treatment to patients. The amount never reaches them while sometimes these patients do not even exist.

The Sindh government has been unable to digitalize the collection and distribution of Zakat even in the modern age. This allows it to use these funds for political purposes as they are distributed among local politicians. There is reliance on the outdated and archaic system of Zakat committees. The provincial government has also not conducted an audit of the Zakat funds since the past ten years.

Under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance 1980, public hospitals are illegible to receive funds for the treatment, surgeries, medical fees, medicines and other expenses of deserving patients as determined by the Zakat committee. The standing committee in the Sindh Assembly has summoned the record of distributed Zakat funds but they have never been presented.

In Karachi, it has been revealed that Zakat committees have embezzled an amount of Rs380 million under the pretext on living allowances. Opposition parties in Sindh Assembly have provided the list of these bogus patients and chairmen of Zakat committees who approved these patients. This has been common in district South, Central and Korangi. The list shows discrepancies in the amounts handed over to the recipients.

The Sindh government had allocated Rs1200 million under living allowances along with Rs203 million for seminaries, hospitals, social welfare and marriages, while Rs1491 million were allocated to assist educational institutes and for the Eid package.