Islamabad, Apr 18, 2025: A pivotal session of the Legislative Committee, constituted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Cabinet, was convened in Peshawar under the leadership of Provincial Law Minister, Aftab Alam Advocate.
Among the key participants were Minister for Zakat and Ushr Syed Qasim Ali Shah, Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel, Revenue Board Secretary Muhammad Irshad, alongside other senior government representatives.
During the meeting, members analyzed the newly drafted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill 2025, which proposes crucial changes aimed at strengthening social welfare initiatives for vulnerable communities.
The suggested revisions emphasize increasing aid for people with disabilities.
Plans include distributing supportive devices, simplifying the verification of disabilities through a centralized service center, and launching an online application platform to speed up processing.
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The bill also proposes monthly financial assistance for unmarried women above the age of 55, ensuring they live with dignity and independence.
Committee members also reviewed financial grants expected from the federal level and acknowledged the instrumental roles played by the Law Department and the Advocate General’s office in steering these efforts forward.
An important proposal included the expansion of welfare assistance to religious minorities and economically disadvantaged segments through a transparent donation fund.
The committee stressed the need for clarity in Zakat collection methods and recommended merit-based selection criteria for heads and members of the 4,200 Zakat committees across KP.
Further suggestions focused on setting educational standards for committee members and regulating their financial powers to safeguard against corruption and misuse of resources.
The discussion included a special segment on the province’s “Roshan Mustaqbil Card” project.
The initiative aims to protect orphaned children, especially those whose mothers have remarried, by ensuring they receive proper upbringing and future opportunities.
The KP Department of Law will now incorporate the committee’s feedback before formally presenting the revised bill to the provincial Cabinet for final approval.
The primary goal is to develop a transparent, accountable, and effective Zakat and Ushr distribution system that directly benefits the province’s most underprivileged citizens.
