Lahore: Ban on outlawed groups to collect Zakat and Fitra

LAHORE: The government has imposed a ban on the collection of Fitra and Zakat by the outlawed groups, ARY News reported on Saturday.

The government has imposed a ban on 75 banned groups to collect donations in the name of Zakat and Fitra during upcoming holy month of Ramazan.

It is to mention here that extending financial assistance to the outlawed groups in the name of charity has been punishable offence under the law.

A court of law can award 10 years sentence and impose fine to a person who violates the relevant law and extends financial help to a banned group.

According to a report, the people in Pakistan donate up to $4.5 billion annually to help the poor and needy in the name of charity.

The authorities last year announced a program aimed at preventing billions of rupees in public donations to charities from ending up with banned militant groups as several such groups put up advertisements in different areas, calling for zakat and fitra donations in the name of the poor.

The government has vowed to take strict action against any such outlawed organisation found involved in zakat and fitra collection.

The authorities urge citizens to ensure that the charity groups they are donating to have not been banned by the government.