Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has announced that a Zakat Beneficiary Card will be introduced next month to provide essential services to the poor and needy people of the Maldives.
The initiative supports President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s decision to establish the Maldives Zakat House as an independent agency responsible for improving services provided to the less fortunate.
The card, developed jointly by the Zakat House and the Bank of Maldives (BML) will identify individuals listed in the national register of Zakat beneficiaries. The card’s purpose is to modernise and streamline service delivery, while ensuring that Zakat recipients receive full benefits without needing to visit multiple offices.
The Minister said the card will function similar to a bank Visa card, enabling direct access to assistance from Zakat House. During Ramadan, the card will help distribute food aid, and can also be used to cover health expenses not supported by the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, as well as provide support for food, housing and education.