“We Came for Help, But Faced Humiliation”: BISP Beneficiaries Speak Out in Karachi
The Benazir Income Support Programme provides a crucial lifeline for many women in New Karachi during difficult times. However, that lifeline came with a price this week, both monetary and emotional.
Numerous women gathered at a government school that was converted into a payment center to demand justice rather than receive assistance. They allege that center employees were taking substantial amounts of money, up to Rs3,000, out of their entitlements. Even worse, some reported experiencing harassment in private.
After days of waiting for payment, a distraught 48-year-old beneficiary remarked, “We came here to feed our children, not to be insulted.” She claimed that she was summoned into a private room and requested to pay a “fee” before being given her money, like many others have done.
Police and district officials in Bilal Colony responded quickly to the women’s collective outcry. The women’s anguish and annoyance were evident even while police took statements. SSP Central Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqui and DSP New Karachi both stated that an investigation is in progress.
Their voices have been magnified by social media, as evidenced by the viral success of video testimonials. Women describe being abused and reprimanded for asking inquiries in these clips. Many claimed that after multiple trips, they were forced to go home empty-handed.
What was supposed to be a sanctuary of comfort became a source of anxiety and annoyance. The impacted women are demanding dignity as well as justice as the inquiry progresses. Their request is straightforward: make sure those in need receive assistance without any conditions or embarrassment. Their stories are a powerful reminder that welfare is not a favor, but a right — one that must be protected at all costs.
