CHAGAI: Director General of the Benazir Income Support Programme Aiwaz Baloch said he and his team were striving to end illegal deductions in the quarterly payments being made by private retailers to BISP beneficiaries in some parts of Balochistan.

He vowed to create awareness among the BISP beneficiaries about the payment process and asked them to lodge written complaints against those who were asking for bribes in return for their payments.

Talking to journalists in Dalbandin, Mr Baloch recalled his experience after visiting many cities and towns in Balochistan and said some retailers were found using illegal tactics to deduct Rs100-200 from every single beneficiary of the BISP in several cities of the province.

“Although the complaints were lodged in this regard with the bank concerned as the private retailers are linked with it, the BISP management is working on a plan to streamline the payment process by making possible the hand-cash deliveries into the ATM system in near future,” he added.

When asked about the complaints regarding illegal issuance of mobile phone Sims on BISP beneficiaries’ thumbs without their consent, Mr Baloch expressed concern over such practices and assured that the matter would be probed and legal action taken if someone was found guilty.

He said issues relating to lack of BISP staff, increases in number of retailers and unrecognisable thumbs of a few elderly people being discussed and a proper solution would be compiled accordingly.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2020