Independent presidential candidate Hassan Zameel has committed to enacting a law to collect Zakat payments, aiming to generate revenue for state debt management.
In a special programme, Zameel emphasised that his key strategy for debt management in his government is to institute a robust system for Zakat collection. He highlighted the current lack of citizens engagement on Zakat payments and noted the absence of consequences for non-payment. He, however, pledged that if he gets elected, he would introduce a mandatory law for Zakat payments and enforce penalties for non-compliance.
Additionally, Zameel noted that while the exact revenue potential of Zakat payments has not been calculated, he emphasised that making it mandatory by law would result in significant state income.