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PESHAWAR, Mar 29 (IPS) – The free Atta (flour) distribution scheme launched by the federal government to help the inflation-hit communities throughout the holy month of Ramzan has left no less than ten useless and over 100 injured as would-be beneficiaries rush to assert their 10-kilogram baggage.
“We now have been ready in lengthy queues to get a bag of flour since morning however to no avail, because the police resorted to baton charging the would-be beneficiaries. No less than 20 individuals, together with seven girls, sustained accidents as a result of police baton-charged the gang,” Abdul Wali, 35, a day by day wager, informed IPS.
A resident of Mardan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Wali stated that he had no cash to buy flour and different gadgets for day by day use and had pinned his hopes on the free flour scheme. However owing to the push of individuals, he didn’t get it. As a substitute, the injured man was rushed to the hospital.
Wali, a avenue vendor, stated he obtained first support on the hospital, the place his wounds had been bandaged, however he has been compelled to relaxation till he recovers.
On March 8, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif introduced the federal government would supply 100 million individuals with 10kg of free flour throughout Ramzan in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces. He stated it will price Rs73 billion (about USD 257 million) to the nationwide exchequer.
For the reason that starting of flour distribution on the designated factors, ten individuals, together with two girls, have died of their effort to get free baggage underneath the Benazir Revenue Help Programme (BISP).
Pakistanis, hit by price-hikes, rush to the factors every day, however half of them return empty-handed within the night because of the variety of individuals making an attempt to assert their meals parcels. Stampedes have an issue, particularly in KP, the place the poverty ratio is greater than in some other province.
“My father stood in a row to get the flour, however in the meantime, stampede began, and he died immediately,” Ghufran Khan, a day by day wager in Charsadda district, informed IPS. His father, Wakil Khan, 55, an asthmatic, misplaced his life earlier than he may get his flour ration.
Mismanagement on the distribution locations is preserving the aged and sick individuals away from factors the place the younger and wholesome individuals get the flour, he stated.
On March 26, a tribal Jirga banned girls from visiting the distribution factors in Bara Khyber District in KP.
“Our girls are getting harsh therapy, and due to this fact, we’ve got determined that solely male members of the deserving households would accumulate the luggage,” Shahid Khan Shinwari, a member of the Jirga, stated.
In line with him, the federal government ought to give money quantities via banks to keep away from maltreatment of the beneficiaries.
“As per native traditions, our girls don’t enterprise out in public, however poverty has hit the individuals onerous, forcing them even to resort to begging. Authorities ought to take pity on poor individuals who don’t have any choice however to attend within the scorching solar to get flour,” Shinwari stated.
The state of affairs in tribal districts situated alongside the Pakistan-Afghanistan border may be very precarious due to the poverty, he stated.
Nasreen Bibi, a resident of Peshawar, the capital of KP, is offended concerning the distribution mechanism.
“For the final three days, I’ve been visiting the purpose, however there was no likelihood of getting the stuff because of the large crowd. I’m scared and have stopped going there now,” Bibi, a housewife, informed IPS. A widow, she has to feed her six kids. All are unemployed, and her oldest son, a mason, misplaced his job as a result of the development actions have come to a whole halt as a result of Ramzan, she stated.
Younger individuals are climbing over vehicles loaded with flour and take away baggage whereas the ladies are compelled to be silent spectators, she defined.
Sharif visited a number of cities after reviews of deaths and accidents, however there was no enchancment because the mechanism is problematic. On March 27, he inspected a number of locations in Islamabad, however there have been no enhancements up to now.
Human rights activists are involved.
“It’s a gross violation of human rights. Individuals are combating for flour with out caring for his or her well-being and well being. I like to recommend that the federal government undertake the mechanism of former Prime Minister Imran Khan throughout Covid-19, the place individuals obtained Rs12,000 via banks,” Muhammad Uzair, a human rights activist, stated.
On wet days, the state of affairs worsens when the individuals get moist flour that can’t be used, he stated.
“We attraction to the federal government to understand the gravity of the state of affairs and revert to money help to avoid wasting the ladies, kids and aged individuals from disrespect,” he stated.
He stated that if the federal government didn’t listen, the disaster might enhance, and many individuals may lose their lives.
Even in Islamabad, the capital metropolis of Pakistan, individuals throng the distribution factors early within the morning, however many lose hope and return to their houses.
“The federal government has enrolled 150,000 households in Islamabad, however the tempo of distribution is at snail’s tempo, and police have needed to intervene repeatedly to make sure order,” Shah Afzal, 59, stated.
Afzal, a dishwasher in a restaurant, misplaced his job throughout Ramzan. He stated the flour distribution gave the impoverished group hope, however the system is defective and aged individuals can not proceed to place their lives in danger.
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