LAKKI MARWAT, May 1: Poor people getting financial help from the Pakistan Baitul Mal under the food support programme are facing difficulties in opening account in the National Bank.

Sources said that officials of the NBP’s Lakki Marwat branch had specifically asked these people not to come for opening their accounts before May 10.

They said that the Pakistan Baitul Mal’s food support programme had recently shifted its accounts to the National Bank from post offices on an experimental basis in the district.

“The procedure will be implemented in other districts if transparent disbursement of aid through the bank was ensured in the district,” sources said.

They said that the poor people had expressed resentment over the new procedure and informed Baitul Mal authorities about their apprehensions but without any success.

“The NBP officials in Lakki Marwat are reluctant to facilitate opening of accounts for the poor people,” the sources said.

Citing extraordinary workload during the first 10 days of every month, the NBP Lakki Marwat branch manager, Najeebullah, said that the bank staffers were busy handling salaries and pensions of government employees during the period.

“We have so far not received any funds under the food support programme from the Baitul Mal,” he said. “When we do, we will fully assist the deserving people to get the financial aid,” the bank manager said.