Zakat Department cancels Eid payouts
Earlier, no financial assistance or Eid gifts were distributed during Eidul Fitr either.
On Thursday, needy individuals, widows, and other deserving recipients, who visited the Zakat office in hopes of receiving financial aid, were informed that there would be no disbursement, which prompted widespread protest among the affected families.
For the past 18 months, no financial aid has been distributed to eligible beneficiaries across Punjab due to the ongoing economic crisis. Prior to Eidul Fitr, there were announcements of Eid gifts worth Rs12,000 per recipient from the 20th to the 25th of Ramazan. However, on the 28th of Ramazan, the beneficiaries were told, "There is no money," and the distribution was canceled.
Similarly, this Eidul Azha, an official announcement was made on April 28, stating that Rs24,000 would be given to each deserving individual as part of a one-time Eid gift. The news had brought joy to many needy families, widows, and orphans. However, when a large number of women arrived at the Zakat office to collect the promised aid, they were informed that funds had not been released and that the Eid gifts were canceled. Officials told them the money might be disbursed after Eid, once funds become available.
Many women were seen in tears. One widow, Razia Begum, expressed her distress, saying, "They humiliated us on Eidul Fitr too. At that time, we were told we'd receive Rs12,000; now Rs24,000 was promised as annual aid, and once again, we've been turned away. If there's no money, they shouldn't make false promises."
Families of patients suffering from leprosy were also denied financial assistance, despite being listed among recipients.
Zakat Department employees in Rawalpindi revealed that they themselves have not received their salaries, even though staff in other government departments were paid on May 30 and 31. Without their wages, these employees said they couldn't buy clothes or shoes for their children, and their Eid celebrations were ruined. They have been told salaries might be issued on June 10 or 11.
On Thursday, all deserving women and families who came in hopes of receiving financial assistance returned disappointed.
The Zakat Department typically provides a monthly subsistence allowance of Rs2,000, paid every three to four months via EasyPaisa. However, due to the ongoing financial crisis across Punjab, this allowance has not been disbursed for the past 18 months. A full year's unpaid aid, amounting to Rs24,000, was supposed to be given as an Eid gift this time, butjust like Eidul FitrEidul Azha passed without any assistance due to unavailability of funds.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
LSE Ventures approves stock split from Rs10 to Rs5 per share
LSE Ventures Limited announced on Monday that it had approved a stock split from Rs10 to Rs5 per share. This company announced in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) today. 'The approval is hereby accorded for subdivision of the authorized capital of LSE Ventures Limited from Rs3,000,000,000/- divided into 300,000,000 ordinary shares of Rs10.00 each to Rs3,000,000,000/- divided into 600,000,000 ordinary shares of Rs5.00 each.' 'Board of Directors of the company authorized to determine the entitlement dates and book closure dates to effectuate the stock-split,' it added. LSE Ventures Limited was established on Jul 18, 2022, with the purpose of holding the legacy capital market infrastructure investments that had been made during the time of the functioning of the former Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE). The principal activity of the company is to source and invest capital in growth oriented enterprises and emerging ventures generating positive cash flows.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Peshawar reels under civic shutdown as municipal workers strike
Life in Peshawar was thrown into disarray on Monday after employees of the Capital Metropolitan Government launched an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries and pensions. With the walkout, all municipal services—including sanitation, waste disposal, and other civic operations—ground to a halt. Offices under the metropolitan administration were locked, as workers vowed not to return until their financial dues are cleared. The strike was announced following a meeting of the United Municipal Workers Union, chaired by Malik Muhammad Naveed and attended by key office bearers, including General Secretary Syed Waqar Ali Shah, President Ismail Khan, Finance Secretary Khawaja Aftab Elahi, and several senior leaders. The union has also planned a protest rally in the city to press their demands. Speaking at the meeting, Naveed said the crisis had pushed thousands of low-paid employees and their families to the brink. 'Our households are facing starvation, while aged retirees, widows, and orphans run from office to office in vain, unable to access their pensions,' he said. He criticised senior officials for continuing to indulge in extravagant expenses while employees are deprived of their most basic rights. Union leaders further alleged that around Rs7 million per month was being spent on daily-wage workers who, they claimed, were neither needed nor regularly seen on duty. 'This unnecessary expenditure is draining the limited resources of the metropolitan government while genuine employees are left unpaid,' the representatives said. They warned that the strike would remain in force indefinitely until the government releases salaries and pensions, stressing that workers had no option but to resort to such drastic action. The protest in Peshawar follows months of growing resentment across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's local bodies over inadequate financial support from the provincial government. In June, the K-P Local Government Employees Federation had voiced strong concern over the failure to release sufficient grants to pay salaries and pensions of employees in financially weak councils. According to the federation, the finance department had approved grants of Rs360.4 million and Rs150 million for settled areas, and Rs71 million for merged districts. However, union leaders argued these amounts fell far short of the actual requirements of various Tehsil Municipal Administrations. They said the allocations were often based on outdated formulas, leaving weaker councils unable to pay staff on time. Federation leaders, including Patron-in-Chief Shaukat Kayani, Chairman Mehboobullah, President Haji Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat, and General Secretary Sulaiman Khan Hoti, accused provincial authorities of ignoring ground realities. They lamented that many employees and pensioners could not receive their dues even ahead of Eidul Fitr and were again facing hardships in the run-up to Eidul Azha. They urged the government to ensure fair and timely release of grants based on genuine financial needs rather than political considerations. 'Local government employees and pensioners should not be forced to beg for what is rightfully theirs,' one leader said. As the strike continues in Peshawar, residents are bracing for worsening sanitation and civic conditions, while union leaders say the protest will only end once the government fulfills its commitments.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Digitalisation: FBR's Rs200,000 cash cap puts pressure on retailers, e-commerce
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has tightened documentation of the retail and e-commerce sectors by capping cash transactions at Rs200,000 applicable to both traditional markets and online Cash on Delivery (CoD) orders. This is likely to put pressure on retailers, consumers to turn towards a cashless economy. FBR sets Rs200,000 cash payment limit, e-commerce CoD orders Impact on digital payments By capping cash payments, the FBR is nudging both retailers and consumers towards digital channels (bank transfers, debit/credit cards, mobile wallets, Raast). One reason CoD dominates in Pakistan's e-commerce (over 80% of orders) is consumer distrust of online payments. The new cap could push platforms to build stronger trust in digital checkout. This is likely to lead to greater financial inclusion as small businesses and e-commerce platforms integrate digital payment systems. High-value shoppers who relied on CoD may now be pushed toward pre-payment or digital settlement, reducing dependency on cash. Impact on e-commerce Logistics and courier companies handling CoD will need to adjust systems to reject or split orders above Rs 200,000, which is likely to increase operational complexity. One reason CoD dominates in Pakistan's e-commerce (over 80% of orders) is consumer distrust of online payments. The new cap could push platforms to build stronger trust in digital checkout. Lower cash handling by couriers may even reduce theft, fraud and cash mismanagement. Taxing the digital frontier: Pakistan's bold move to tap e-commerce and online revenues This latest move aligns with International Monetary Fund (IMF) backed reforms to formalise the economy and increase tax compliance as digital payments are likely to create a trail of transactions that can be monitored and taxed. Similar restrictions have been enforced also in other countries. India, for instance, capped cash transactions above INR 200,000 in a day in 2017, a move that coincided with the country's demonetisation drive and spurred the adoption of payment platforms like UPI. Bangladesh, too, has set caps on cash payments for corporate expenses to encourage digital trails. Pakistan's measure mirrors these regional shifts, though adoption may be slower given the dominance of cash. If enforced effectively, the Rs200,000 limit could help accelerate Pakistan's transition toward a cash-lite economy, in line with IMF-backed reform commitments. Success, however, will hinge on whether retailers and consumers adapt smoothly - or resist the transition.
