SHANGLA — Dozens of women beneficiaries in Shangla have raised serious concerns over alleged illegal deductions, payment delays, and administrative irregularities in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s Ramazan Relief Package.
Affected beneficiaries say they are facing repeated hurdles while receiving financial assistance, including unauthorized deductions and long waiting times at payment centres across the district.
Beneficiaries allege unauthorized deductions
Several women, including Saira Bibi, Begum Jan, Sultana Hayat, Nazish Shah, and Ira Nazish, said that when they visit payment centres to collect their BISP installments, different reasons are reportedly given to deduct money from their payments.
They alleged that similar deductions are also being made from the Ramazan relief funds announced by the provincial government.
According to the beneficiaries, in some cases more than Rs500 is deducted from the Ramazan relief payment, and women are often asked to accept the reduced amount without explanation.
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Complaints of payment delays
Beneficiaries also reported delays in receiving their payments. In several instances, retailers at payment centres reportedly issue slips or receipts and ask women to return later to collect the money.
As a result, some women say they are forced to visit payment centres repeatedly for several days, sometimes up to a week, before receiving their installments.
Many beneficiaries rely on the financial assistance to support their families, and delays or deductions create significant hardship, particularly during the holy month of Ramazan.
Difficult conditions at payment centres
Women also complained about inadequate facilities at BISP payment centres in various parts of Shangla.
In many locations, beneficiaries are required to wait in crowded markets, small shops, or narrow streets without proper seating arrangements, shelter, or other basic amenities.
Technical issues such as biometric verification failures and weak network connectivity further disrupt the payment process, sometimes forcing women to return home without receiving their funds.
Safety concerns after fatal incident
Concerns about safety arrangements intensified after an incident at a payment centre in the Kar Kana area of Shangla, where a wall reportedly collapsed on a crowd of beneficiaries.
Local sources said the incident resulted in the death of one woman, while several others were injured, with two reported to be in critical condition.
The incident has raised questions about infrastructure and crowd management at payment centres.
Call for investigation
Beneficiaries and local residents have urged federal and provincial authorities to investigate the alleged deductions and administrative issues at BISP payment centres in Shangla.
They demanded that eligible women receive the full amount of financial assistance and called for strict action against individuals involved in any form of exploitation or malpractice.
Residents also emphasized the need for stronger monitoring mechanisms, transparent payment systems, and improved facilities to ensure that vulnerable families receive their assistance without unnecessary hardship.
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