Jirga bans women from flour distribution points
PHOTO: INP/FILE
At a time when provision of free wheat flour has provided a much-needed relief to the inflation-hit people across the country despite widespread mismanagement and fatal stampedes, a Jirga of Shalobar sub-clan of Afridi tribe has banned the visits of women to the distribution points in Khyber tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
A local Jirga, headed by Shalobar Qaumi Council chairman Syed Shah Afridi, announced on Sunday that only men would be allowed at the distribution centres.
The decision was taken after rumours spread that all women are provided free flour and thousands of women rushed to the distribution points despite the fact that only women registered under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) are eligible.
When the women didn’t get free flour as rumoured, they staged a protest demonstration against the district administration by blocking the Pak-Afghan Highway.
“A Jirga was held in Bara in which the tribal elders decided that women would not go to the distribution points. They also announced distribution points for each locality and it was decided that people would go to their local points,” said a local resident while talking to The Express Tribune.
“It has been decided by the Jirga that women would not be allowed at the distribution points and only men of families which are registered with BISP could come to fetch flour,” he said, adding that the treatment of women at these points is viewed as a great dishonor.
All the women were asked to hand over their CNICs to their menfolk who would come and get the flour for them.
On the other hand, K-P Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry ordered deputy commissioners to make separate queues and counters for disabled persons, women and senior citizens across the province so that they could get flour with ease.
He said that establishment of new free flour distribution centers would facilitate locals to get Ramazan package with ease and would also help in crowd management at the points.
To provide relief to the people, the chief secretary said he had been continuously visiting distribution centres for the fourth consecutive day.
He reviewed the facilities at distribution points established at PDA Hazar Khawani Park and Hayatabad Sports Complex.
He kicked off distribution of free flour from both the centers by giving away relief package to deserving people.
On this occasion, the chief secretary met with people and inquired about problems they faced in getting flour. He appealed to the public to cooperate with district administration and avoid chaos and stampede in case of technical failure in the system.
The chief secretary instructed administrative officers to personally monitor process of flour distribution to poor families, adding that difficulties in getting flour should be removed and adequate facilities should be ensured at distribution points for the people.
It may be mentioned here that dozens of people have been injured across the province in stampedes at distribution centres while five people lost their lives as result of these violent mobs across the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2023.