SAHIWAL - Punjab Zakat and Usher Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran has said that the Punjab government is distributing up to Rs3.5 billion among the needy people through 25,000 local zakat committees which are being constituted in all district across the province. Zakat is distributed among the needy people on monthly basis under Guzara allowance while education scholarships, medical facility and dowry fund are also given to the poor and deserving people. Punjab Zakat and Usher Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran was addressing a press conference here on Monday. Newly appointed District Zakat Chairman Haji Pir Ihsanul Haq, district committees members and local PML-N leaders were also present on the occasion. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had selected honest and upright people for the Zakat committees to ensure distribution of Zakat funds in fair and transparent way. The minister expressed his hope that Zakat would be given to the neediest and deserving people without any discrimination. Speaking on the occasion, the newly-elected district chairman assured that the only criterion for the distribution of zakat funds would be merit and deservingness. AD&SJ visits jail: Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Zafar Iqbal inspected the Sahiwal Central Jail here on Monday. He listened to the problems being faced by the prisoners and also reviewed the facilities being provided for them in the jail. He said that prisoners were kept in jail neither to penalise them nor to spoil their lives but they were imprisoned for their training to make them useful citizens for society. Mr Zafar also visited juvenile and female apartments. On this occasion, Jail Superintendent Kamran Anjum and Dupty Superintendent M Ikram were also present. The superintendent said the jail administration was imparting both the technical and religious education to the prisoners so that they could become useful citizens after their release. However, the AD&SJ released 3 detainees involved in minor crimes on their personal surety bonds.