By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A collective dowry funds distribution ceremony was held in SyedAlian, Dera Ismail Khan, under the supervision of Pirzada Muhammad Aamir, chairman of the District Zakat Committee, providing financial support to 44 girls from underprivileged families.
During the ceremony, cross cheques worth Rs200,000 each were handed to the beneficiaries, who were unable to afford marriage expenses. The event was attended by Mrs Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur as chief guest and hosted at the residence of PTI’s former Provincial Assembly candidate Syed Kamran Shah and Syed Jameel Shah.
The recipients belonged to the areas of Panyala, Paharpur, Glooti and Chanda within Tehsil Paharpur Circle. The cheques were jointly distributed by Mrs Gandapur, Syed Kamran Shah and Chairman Pirzada Muhammad Aamir. The funds were provided by the Zakat Department, Dera Ismail Khan.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Gandapur said that under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government and the leadership of former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, dowry funds worth millions of rupees had been distributed across the province, particularly in Dera Ismail Khan, to support poor and deserving girls at the time of marriage.
Mrs Gandapur added that the grant, previously Rs100,000 per girl, had been increased to Rs200,000 due to the personal efforts of the former chief minister. Syed Kamran Shah described the dowry funds distribution as a commendable and welfare-oriented initiative and congratulated the former chief minister. He also appreciated Chairman Pirzada Muhammad Aamir for ensuring transparency and merit in the allocation process.
In his address, Chairman Pirzada Muhammad Aamir announced that a Rs5 million cheque from Zakat funds had been provided to Dinar Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, for the free treatment of cancer patients. He said patients could also access free treatment at Shaukat Khanum Hospital and hospitals in Peshawar.
Pirzada further stated that, thanks to the efforts of former Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, the transparent provision of dowry funds to deserving families and widows, scholarships for students, and life-saving medicines through Zakat funds continued smoothly in District Dera Ismail Khan.
