Our newspapers have reported that local banks have decided to increase their contributions to charitable organizations by 30 percent. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs commended the banks’ role, saying that last year charitable bodies received over SR1.3 billion in donations which benefited 262 organizations; the ministry also said that this year’s charitable donations are expected to increase by eight percent. The exact amount given by banks was not disclosed but it was described as substantial and stressed that they apply strict measures for receiving and disbursing money. It is good to know that donations to charitable organizations are on the rise. It is even more heartening to know that the focus is now on fighting poverty on the domestic front after a long time during which our charitable donations were sent abroad instead of being used in the country. It was only after we discovered that, like all other countries in the world, we have poor citizens among us and that we do suffer from a problem known as poverty.

Although banks continue to make profits, we do not know how much money they will contribute to charities. Regardless of the amount, it is still far less than what is expected. We all know that the annual profits our banks make are enormous compared to profits made by banks in other countries.

The SR1.3 billion the ministry said was given to charity last year could have been substantially increased if more efficient means had been applied to zakah collection. This would allow private establishments to play a more active role in charity, thus allowing planners to take care of many of the needs of poor families.

We now know that we have a poverty problem and that we have poor people to care for. What we don’t know is where to draw the poverty line in order to be able to determine how many people need assistance. There has been no word yet from the committee assigned to study this matter or what steps, if any, it has taken so far.

While appreciating the work of charities, we still hope to see them develop new mechanisms and tools and further improve the way they function since this would enable them more easily to reach those in need.

Arab News From the Local Press 18 June 2003