‘Helping marginalised segments is our moral, religious obligation’

Islamabad : Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan Thursday said that as human beings it is our moral, social and also religious obligation and responsibility to provide social protection to the marginalized and indigent segments of our society.

The President made these remarks while speaking to Managing Director Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) Aon Abbas Buppi during a visit to the Bait-ul-Mal head office.

The AJK president commended the Bait-ul Mal for its dynamic and enduring efforts in providing financial assistance, social protection and vocational training to the impoverished segments of the society including widows, orphans and especially the disabled.

MD Bait-ul-Mal also informed the AJK president that the PBM has been active in the process of directly or indirectly assisting people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

He said that donor organisations have distributed food packages amongst the deserving in various regions of the country.

He added that the PBM would also visit all districts of AJK to help identify the deserving and assist them during the current lockdown.

Other forms of assistance, he said, include financial assistance for medical procedures and education.

AJK president welcomed the proposals of the MD PBM and suggested that for the immediate relief of the local population ration packages may be distributed in all areas of AJK.

He also said that the AJK Government would help identify and document deserving individuals and families.

The AJK president said that the coronavirus lockdown has had an economic impact on the general population and any form of assistance by government functionaries will be welcomed.

In this regard, he said, the AJK Government is already working in close liaison with the Federal Government and this time around the early disbursement of Zakat has been ensured by the AJK Government.