December 16, 2006	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: The Pakistan Post Office has denied the charge of unfair disbursement of the Food Support Programme fund and has accused the Pakistan Baitul Maal of providing lists of undeserving and ghost beneficiaries to it.

PPO director (banking) Nazakat Sultan Wattoo said the PPO had accepted the responsibility for disbursement of the FSP fund free of service charges only on humanitarian grounds. He said the Baitul Maal not only provided the amount of the FSP, but also lists of deserving people to the PPO for disbursement of the amount. "While preparing such lists, officials of the PBM include names of undeserving and ghost beneficiaries which create problems for the department," he alleged.

He said the Pakistan Post disbursed the amount according to the list provided by the Pakistan Baitul Maal. “It is the duty of the PBM to provide lists of genuine mustahiqeen, but it is not being done properly as per laid down procedures,” he observed.

Pakistan Baitul Maal managing director Mr Sarfaraz had recently announced that the next instalment of the Food Support Programme fund would be provided to beneficiaries through the National Bank of Pakistan.

The decision was taken after the senate’s standing committee on communication expressed its concern over bungling in the disbursement of PBM funds through post offices.

Committee chairman Syed Kamil Ali Agha had also pointed out that fake forms for obtaining loans were being sold at post offices.

He called for an action against those involved in it.