Protests Erupt in PoGB Over Income Support Payment Delays

Residents in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan are protesting the delay in financial aid payments from the Benazir Income Support Program amid the region's economic struggles. Beneficiaries cite persistent system issues, lack of local banking access, and inadequate government communication as major grievances.

Amid escalating economic hardships in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan, the local administration has come under fire for failing to issue overdue economic benefits to recipients of government aid schemes. The delay has sparked protests among account holders of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) in Yasin Valley, who have been unable to access payments for the past four days due to ongoing technical issues, as reported by the Pamir Times.

This operational failure has incited widespread frustration among beneficiaries who depend heavily on these payments to meet basic living expenses. The BISP program is designed to provide direct payments into recipients' accounts, which presently remain beyond reach for many in PoGB. One protestor expressed their indignation, saying, "It has been four days now, and no beneficiary has received any payments in their accounts. The government has provided no assurances, and our questions go unanswered. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that these accounts are managed by a bank with no branches in PoGB, leaving us uncertain about when services will resume."

A leader highlighted additional concerns in the Pamir Times, noting that many people spend significant sums on travel from remote areas seeking answers about their payments, only to face BISP's inefficiencies. "Beneficiaries receive minimal relief from BISP but often incur greater costs journeying to access their funds. Despite having 10,000 beneficiaries, the authorities have provided just one operational device for BISP accounts, leading to long wait times and increasing dissatisfaction," he stated.

(With inputs from agencies.)