Aid beneficiaries return empty-handed

Scores of women from the Christian community who were summoned by the district administration to receive financial assistance ahead of Christmas have expressed outrage over the administration's treatment.

They alleged that the administration humiliated them by making them wait from morning to afternoon and sent them home empty-handed in the evening after only collecting their NIC numbers and mobile phone numbers.

Christian women from four districts, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal, were called for three consecutive days with a promise of financial assistance worth Rs5,000 to Rs10,000 for Christmas celebrations.

Upon arrival, 90 per cent of the women and their husbands were informed that their names were not registered and were advised to contact the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) office.

The remaining 10 per cent were asked to leave their ID cards and mobile numbers, assuring them that the money would be transferred to their mobile numbers.

Yesterday, these women staged a big protest in front of the district council hall, expressing their outrage and disappointment at the district administration and chanting slogans. The women, who had travelled from afar, were upset that they had been called to collect financial aid, only to discover that it would only be given to those registered in the BISP.

The protesters argued that if the aid was not intended for all poor Christian families, then why had they been called? They also questioned the need for identity cards from those already registered in the programme, stating that they could have been sent directly to their registered numbers.

The women stressed that they were genuine beneficiaries, having come to collect financial help after struggling to make ends meet, yet they were humiliated.

Rehana Masih said she had been visiting for two days and received a number only today. However, when her identity card was checked, she was told that she could not receive assistance because she was not registered with the BISP.