‘5,000 BISP beneficiaries in Chitral removed from record’
CHITRAL: At least 5000 beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) were removed from the list in Chitral under a conspiracy by the PTI government.
This was stated by former KP minister and PPP Chitral president Salim Khan at a press conference here on Monday.
He said the PTI government was also planning to altogether wind up the programme launched by former prime minister and slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
He said since coming to power the PTI has done nothing but taking anti-poor steps making it hard for the people to live a decent life. Those who raised voice against its injustices are being silenced through different tactics and even the media is being forced into silence.
Salim Khan said after takingover of the PTI first in KPK and then in centre, the wheel of development in Chitral came to a grinding halt.
Instead of initiating any public welfare project, the government even shelved all those schemes for which funds had been approved by the previous PML-N government, he added.
He said Rs19 billion had been approved for the construction of Garam Chashma, Kalash valleys and Shandur road but the PTI government dropped these projects in the 2019-20 budget.
Chitral is a popular tourist destination but without proper road infrastructures we cannot promote tourism. It is ironic that funds meant for reconstruction of roads in Chitral were being utilized in Swat, he added.
The former minister said it was shameful that the newly-built 108 megawatt Golen Gol powerhouse is now generating only seven MW due to incapability of the government.
He asked the government to expedite work on the rehabilitation of the Reshun hydel power station to ensure supply of electricity to Upper Chitral before the start of the summer season.
Ms Shahi Gul Kalash on the occasion said diversion of funds meant for Kalash valleys’ roads to any other part of the province would not be tolerated.
In reply to a question, Salim Khan said if elected members of national and provincial assemblies were unable to resolve public issues they should resign.–Muhkam Uddin Ayuni
The very name BISP is misnomer here. What contribution did Benazir have to improve condition of the poor? In fact she along with her husband looted the country mercilessly, the cost of which we are paying now.