By Aftab Hussain
SHANGLA: The distribution of BISP Wallet Account SIM Cards for 105,000 eligible women is currently underway across district Shangla. While the initiative aims to facilitate direct financial assistance to deserving women, the process has been marked by serious logistical shortcomings, causing widespread hardship for beneficiaries, particularly elderly and vulnerable women.
According to official sources, the Benazir Income Support Programme has established eight distribution centers across all tehsils of Shangla to ensure access for beneficiaries. These centers include the District Office Alpuri, Tehsil Office Puran, DRC Besham, DRC Chakaiser, DRC Martung, BHO Kozkana, BHO Damorai, and GHSS Dherai. So far, more than 61,000 women have received their wallet account SIM cards, while the distribution process continues daily with hundreds of women visiting the centers.
BISP Wallet Account SIM Cards Distribution Faces On-Ground Challenges
Despite the progress, severe challenges have emerged at most centers, where women are forced to stand in long queues for several hours, often in harsh weather conditions. The situation is particularly difficult for elderly women, persons with disabilities, and women accompanied by small children, who struggle to endure prolonged waiting times without basic support.
Many senior women have also reported problems with biometric verification, as fingerprints often fail to register due to age-related issues. This has resulted in repeated visits, increased frustration, and in some cases, the complete inability to obtain BISP Wallet Account SIM Cards.
Lack of Basic Facilities at Distribution Centers
Beneficiaries and local residents have complained that essential facilities are largely missing at the centers. Arrangements such as chairs, heaters, clean drinking water, and first-aid services are either insufficient or completely unavailable.
During the prevailing cold weather, women waiting outdoors or in overcrowded spaces have reported a decline in their health, with some experiencing dizziness, weakness, and illness after standing for long hours.
Women With Children Face Additional Difficulties
Women arriving with children described the situation as even more challenging, citing the absence of designated waiting areas or shelters to protect families from the cold. Several beneficiaries said they were forced to leave the centers without receiving their SIM cards due to exhaustion and health concerns.
Rumors Add to Confusion Among Beneficiaries
Misinformation circulating at the local level has further complicated the process. Some eligible women reportedly failed to reach the centers due to false information, while others returned home empty-handed after being misled about procedures or eligibility requirements.
Calls for Immediate Administrative Measures
Affected women have urged the concerned authorities to take immediate corrective steps, including the provision of seating arrangements, heating facilities, clean drinking water, and basic medical assistance at all centers. They warned that without these measures, many deserving women—especially the elderly and persons with disabilities—may be deprived of the facility altogether.
Officials Respond to Distribution Concerns
Officials associated with the distribution process of BISP Wallet Account SIM Cards acknowledged the difficulties and said that additional staff is being deployed to reduce pressure at the centers and improve service delivery. Beneficiaries were advised to ignore rumors and strictly follow official instructions, including visiting only designated centers at scheduled times.
Warning Against Purchasing SIM Cards From Markets
Meanwhile, the Assistant Director BISP Shangla issued a warning advising beneficiaries not to purchase SIM cards from local markets. He clarified that BISP Wallet Account SIM cards are issued exclusively at the officially designated centers and that market-purchased SIM cards are neither linked to BISP nor eligible for receiving financial assistance.
Importance of BISP Wallet Account SIM Cards
BISP Wallet Account SIM Cards play a key role in ensuring direct financial assistance to eligible women, helping them meet daily household expenses, support their children’s education, and manage other essential needs. Any delay or disruption in access directly affects the socio-economic stability of thousands of families in the district.
The situation highlights the urgent need for improved administrative arrangements to ensure that a welfare initiative meant to support women does not become a source of additional hardship.
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