Nine million families across the country receive a quarterly stipend of Rs9,000 under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri constituted monitoring teams to ensure transparent disbursement of stipends to marginalised sections of society. Unsurprisingly though the concerned authorities failed to ensure proper management at the distribution centres.
In Karachi, over 2,000 women from Machar Colony, Musharraf Colony, Kharadar and Mithadar gathered to collect funds at the Karachi Port Trust ground. A stampede ensued as the women rushed to collect the funds. One woman who was hit by a cow in the mob succumbed to her injuries while 20 others were taken to the hospital and were discharged shortly. Intense heat and poor organisation at the centres have resulted in similar incidents in other parts of the country. The incident is a reminder of the chaos that ensued at flour collection points just a few months ago in Ramadan. Clearly, those at the helm do not learn from past mistakes and continue putting the lives of the most vulnerable at stake. Officials can be seen verbally and physically abusing women at the BISP centres in videos circulating on social media. The lack of accountability and little to no consequences for this gross behaviour have allowed officials to continue stripping people of their dignity.
Around the world, governments support vulnerable segments of society through welfare schemes, which are disbursed in a dignified manner. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the marginalised and vulnerable are treated as pariahs. The government needs to give up on its discriminatory attitudes and practices and treat all citizens with respect. Besides increasing the number of BISP distribution points, the staff and law enforcement officials at centres must be trained and sensitised. The government cannot and should not continue violating the safety, well-being, and integrity of the most vulnerable among us.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2023.