Senate passes ‘Zakat, Ushr (Amendment) Bill, 2023

Islamabad: The Senate Committee on Poverty Reduction and Social Security discussed important poverty reduction and social security issues at its meeting on Saturday.

Chaired by Senator Kamran Murtaza, the committee unanimously approved “The Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill, 2023,” introduced by Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Security Shazia Marri.

The bill aims to remove the long-standing legal obstacles that have prevented the efficient redistribution of the subject of zakat and ushr from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to the recently established Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Security, a transition that was initiated in 2019.

During the session, Yusuf Khan, Secretary of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Security, provided valuable insights into the challenges faced in transferring the topic of “Zakat and Ushr.”

He said that this amendment is timely and crucial in overcoming these legal hurdles, as the proposed amendment aims to streamline the process and ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities to the ministry.

High-level participants at the committee meeting included Senator Danesh Kumar and Senator Molvi Faiz Muhammad, who made insightful contributions to the discussion.

Secretary Yusuf Khan and other senior officials from relevant departments also actively participated in the deliberations.

The Committee’s unanimous decision underscores the commitment of Pakistan’s legislature to address critical poverty reduction and social security issues.

The passage of “The Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill, 2023” would be an important step towards a more cohesive and effective governance structure and would ensure the welfare of Pakistan’s citizens.