RAWALPINDI:
Due to a severe ‘financial crisis’, the District Zakat and Ushr Department on Thursday again failed to distribute Eid gifts to 10 deserving recipients, including orphans and widowed women, in Rawalpindi district on the occasion of Eidul Azha.
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.
