PESHAWAR: Opposition parties have strongly criticized the distribution of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Ramadan relief package, accusing the government of favoritism and sidelining deserving individuals based on political affiliations.
Muhammad Hafeez, a laborer from Tehsil Utmankhel, Bajaur, complained that this year's Ramadan package was exclusively distributed among Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers, ignoring those in genuine need. “Previously, financial aid was given based on identity cards, but now, selective individuals have been favored on political grounds,” he claimed.
He further alleged that less than two percent of the actual beneficiaries were truly deserving, while the government used the package to reward financially stable party loyalists.
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The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had announced a Ramadan package of PKR 10,000 for one million families, allocating PKR 10.2 billion for the initiative. However, Nisar Baz, a provincial assembly member from Bajaur representing the Awami National Party (ANP), accused the government of an unfair distribution process, claiming opposition constituencies were entirely ignored.
Baz submitted formal queries in the provincial assembly, questioning why the government bypassed the verified data of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and instead compiled its lists of selected individuals. “If the aim was truly to support the needy, why was the BISP’s verified data disregarded?” he asked.
He also raised concerns over the lack of a transparent mechanism for distributing such a significant amount, urging the government to utilize data from the Zakat and Social Welfare departments to ensure fairness. The opposition demanded details on the selection criteria and the individuals involved in compiling the beneficiary lists.
Nisar Baz called for a thorough investigation into the alleged discrepancies, insisting that complete records—including names, NIC numbers, and distribution details for every village council, constituency, and district—should be presented before the assembly.
On the other hand, PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Information Secretary, Adeel Iqbal, dismissed the allegations, asserting that the Ramadan relief package was being distributed transparently. “The government’s funds are reaching the deserving directly, and the opposition’s criticism is baseless,” he said.
Notably, the provincial government had decided to select 5,000 families per constituency, with PTI’s local leadership and elected representatives overseeing the selection process. However, opposition parties continue to demand a full-scale inquiry into what they describe as an unfair and politically motivated distribution.
30 Mar, 2025
30 Mar, 2025