CHITRAL: A large number of women staged a protest at PIA Chowk on Monday, blocking the road against delays in receiving financial aid under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Braving intense heat, the women demanded immediate action to ensure disbursement of their rightful assistance.
Under BISP, eligible low-income women are entitled to receive a quarterly stipend of Rs9,000, aimed at helping them meet basic household expenses.
However, many of the protestors alleged that they had not received payments for several months, or that their names were unjustly removed from the beneficiary list without explanation.
The protest led to a temporary disruption of traffic in the area. Local police, including the Station House Officer (SHO) of Chitral, arrived at the scene and engaged in dialogue with the protesters. Following discussions, the women agreed to end the road blockade and reopen traffic.
The protesters later marched to the press club where they urged the government to investigate delays and ensure transparency in the BISP system.