MANSEHRA: Chairmen of the Zakat committees here on Thursday warned that they would resign if the government did not increase the number of female beneficiaries eligible for financial assistance.

“On one hand, the government is offering Rs10,000 under the Ramazan Package but on the other, only three women from a Zakat committee’s area of jurisdiction are entitled to this cash handout,” Adil Pakhalvi, chairman of the Argoshal Zakat Committee in Dodial, told reporters here.

Flanked by other Zakat committee chairmen, he said that according to the rules set by provincial Zakat committees, each committee was bound to enlist only three beneficiaries in their respective areas.

“A chairman can only nominate three orphan girls for dowry funds for their weddings in a financial year,” Mr Pakhalvi said.

He said under the Zakat committee’s regulations, only widows and orphaned girls qualify for financial assistance, leaving many poor and deserving families deprived of such aid.

“Around 2,200 chairmen have been elected through an electoral process within the jurisdiction of each local Zakat committee, yet they do not have the authority to nominate more than three deserving families or individuals for charity,” he said.

On the occasion, Arif Khan, chairman of the Malkal Zakat Committee, lamented that they could nominate only one orphan girl for dowry funds in a year.

“The government is releasing billions under the Ramazan and Eid package across the province. It should divert some of those funds to the Zakat fund to benefit more deserving families,” he said.

Israr Khan, chairman of the Gariwal Zakat committee, complained they were eager to serve deserving families but faced criticism from those who remained deprived of assistance.

“We have returned our registers to the district Zakat committee, and if our demands are not met, we will resign,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2025