Rawalpindi:
Due to a serious “financial crisis”, the Zakat and USHR district department has not succeeded in distributing Eid gifts to 10 deserving recipients, including orphans and widowed women in the Rawalpindindi district during Eidul Azha.
Previously, no financial assistance or Eid gifts have been distributed during Eidul Fitr either.
Thursday, individuals in need, widows and other deserving recipients, who visited the Zakat office in the hope of receiving financial aid, were informed that there would be no disbursement, which protested to protest among the affected families.
Over the past 18 months, no financial assistance has been distributed to eligible Punjab beneficiaries due to the current economic crisis. Before Eidul Fitr, there were Eid gift announcements worth 12,000 rupees per recipient from 20 to 25 from Ramazan. However, the 28 of Ramazan, the beneficiaries were informed: “There is no money” and the distribution was canceled.
Similarly, this EIDUL Azha, an official announcement was made on April 28, declaring that 24,000 rupees would be given to each individual deserving within the framework of an Eid donation. The news had brought joy to many families, widows and orphans in need. However, when a large number of women arrived at the Zakat office to receive the promised aid, they were informed that the funds had not been published and that the Eid gifts were canceled. Officials told them that money could be spent after Eid, once funds are available.
Many women have been seen in tears. A widow, Razia Begum, expressed his distress, saying: “They also humiliated us on Eidul Fitr. At that time, we were told that we received RS12,000; now RS24,000 has been promised as annual help, and again, we have been refused. If there is no money, they should not make false promises.”
Families of patients with leprosy have also been denied financial aid, although they are listed in beneficiaries.
Employees of the Zakat department in Rawalpindi revealed that they had not themselves received their salary, even if the staff of other government services had been paid on May 30 and 31. Without their salary, these employees said that they could not buy clothes or shoes for their children, and their Eid celebrations were ruined. They were told that wages could be issued on June 10 or 11.
Thursday, all the deserving women and families who came in the hope of receiving financial aid have remained disappointed.
The Zakat department generally provides a monthly RS2,000 subsistence allowance, paid every three to four months via Easypaisa. However, due to the current financial crisis through Punjab, this allowance has not been spent for 18 months. Unpaid aid of a full year, amounting to RS24,000, was supposed to be given as a gift from Eid this time, but – just like Eidul Fitr – Eidul Azha has passed without any help because of the unavailability of funds.
