MUZAFFARABAD: The Zakat and Ushr Department in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has disbursed scholarships amounting to over Rs30 million during the first half of the current financial year to 4,830 extremely underprivilegedresidentialstudents,including1,194females, enrolled in religious seminaries across the 10 districts of the state.

A spokesperson for the department said in a press release on Friday that this step had been taken in light of the `priorities and directives` of Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.

The payments were made to the heads of the respective seminaries through crossed cheques, he added.

Providing a breakdown of the disbursement, the spokesperson said that Rs 8,983,800 had been given for 1,090 male and 336 female students in Muzaffarabad district, Rs 2,135,700 for 244 male and 95 female students in Neelum Valley district, Rs 1,020,600 for 142 male and 20 female students in Jhelum Valley district, Rs 5,298,300 for 573 male and 268 female students in Bagh district, Rs 611,100 for 97 male students in Haveli district, Rs 3,754,800 for 486 male and 110 female students in Poonch district, Rs 1,310,400 for 138 male and 70 female students in Sudhnoti district, Rs 1,184,400 for 128 male and 60 female students in Kotli district, Rs 5,758,200 for 738 male and 176 female students in Mirpur district, and Rs 371,700 for 59 female students in Bhimber district.

`The Department of Zakat and Ushr is providing financial support to impoverished and needy students in line with the government`s priorities and available funds,` the spokesperson said.

He urged wealthy people in the state to channel their Zakat, alms, and other donations through the Zakat and Ushr Department to enable it to extend greater financial assistance to underprivileged students. Tariq Naqash