Provincial Minister for Zakat & Usher Malik Nadim Kamran paid a surprise visit to divisional and district zakat office Faisalabad during which Deputy Administrator Zakat Fakhar Iqbal Sheikh, District Zakat Officer Afzal Saleem Jappa and nine officials were found absent from duty. Provincial Minister, while expressing strong indignation, ordered Secretary Zakat & Usher Punjab to conduct inquiry and take strict departmental action against the absentees. The Minister checked the office record, in view of some complaints. It was revealed that the alleged embezzlement of lakhs of rupees of Zakat Fund was committed with the connivance of field clerk of tehsil Jaranwala and Chairman Local Zakat Committee. It was also revealed that the amount of relevant zakat from tehsil Jaranwala was drawn in violation of rules and regulations and procedure which was not distributed among the deserving persons. Malik Nadim Kamran, while issuing orders for inquiry, asked Secretary Zakat to arrange audit of accounts of all Zakat Committees of the province within eight days so that all information and facts about the use of Zakat Funds could be known. He warned that no irregularity or maladministration would be tolerated in the department. He vowed that surprise visits of offices of Zakat Department to various districts of the province will continue to review the performance of employees. The Minister said that the officials of Zakat Department are associated with a noble mission, therefore, there is no room of dishonesty, absence from duty and negligence in the performance of duty. He directed the employees to discharge their duties efficiently for ensuring distribution of Zakat Funds among deserving persons. He said that the hard working and honest employees will be encouraged while the employees showing negligence would be held accountable strictly.
