Access denied: Hundreds of Watan cards blocked

Watan Cards are blocked after three unsuccessful tries because flood survivors simply don’t know how to use them.

SUKKUR: Ironically it is no one’s fault. Watan Cards are being blocked after three unsuccessful tries because flood survivors simply don’t know how to use them.

These cards, entitling flood survivors to Rs20,000 in government compensation, are being distributed by NADRA centres. But officials don’t have the time to explain to each person how the card is used. Brochures in Urdu are handed out but most of the people can’t read.

As a result, the frustrated card holders find that they only have three chances to get it right. Their card is blocked and takes 48 hours to reactivate. Bank staff are of no help at all, complained some people.

There are two NADRA centres in Sukkur, one at the Sukkur Public School and the other at Islamia College. United Bank Limited (UBL), which is handling the Watan cards, has set up a booth next to each registration centre. However, they too provide no information on using the card, claimed flood survivors.

Bank officials said blocked cards are not their responsibility. “We are not allowed to go stand next to the ATM machines,” they said, adding that once the card is blocked they really cannot do anything. It is up to the staff in Karachi at the bank’s headquarters.

Infuriated by their constant futile trips to ATM machines, several flood survivors have started to take out their anger on the machines. Glass doors and ATM machines have been broken and damaged by people in Shikarpur and Sukkur.

Since most of the areas in Sukkur district have just one or two ATM machines, people from several small towns and villages come to Sukkur city to get their money out. There are at least 30 ATM machines in Sukkur city.

“I’ve been from one place to the other and nothing works,” said a distraught flood survivor while another complained he comes to the city every morning only to return home emptyhanded.

The deputy chairman for NADRA said that they are planning to print on the back of the card instructions on how to use it in three languages.

One man killed in baton charge

Meanwhile, in Nawabshah a man was killed while 10 others were injured in the stampede caused by baton charge on a crowd of flood survivors.

Hundreds of flood survivors had gathered outside the Nawabshah DC High School to register for their Watan cards. According to the flood-affected persons, the police started to lash out at the crowd with their batons because they were not forming a queue. They also fired into the air, which caused people to panic.

Eighty-year-old Bhawal Jamali was killed in the resulting stampede while several others were injured. Jamali’s body and the injured presons were taken to Civil Hospital, Nawabshah.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2010.