BAJAUR: Elders of Tharkani and Utmankhel tribes, the two main tribes of Bajaur tribal district, while appreciating the introduction of a new mechanism to distribute payments of Benazir Income Support Programme among the beneficiary women at their homes, on Sunday called for the start of a fresh survey in order to register more needy people for the stipend.

Addressing a news conference at the Bajaur Press Club, elders, including Malik Bahadar Shah, Malik Shaheen Khan, Malik Mohammad Shah, Malik Nasar Khan, Malik Ayaz Khan, Malik Hifzur Rahman, Malik Sultan Zeb and Malik Noor Khan said the new procedure being adopted for distribution of BISP payments was in accordance with the local customs and traditions.

The elders said it had been their demand that such payments should be made to women at their doorsteps in a dignified way.

The elders said it was first time in Bajaur that BISP payments had been made to women at their homes. They also asked the BISP authorities to start a fresh survey to include thousands of deserving families in the scheme.

The elders said most people of Bajaur were poor and had no proper resource of income, adding mostly women depended on such payments for a living.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2023