Latest news with #Benazir
Express Tribune
06-07-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Death toll rises to 27 in Lyari building collapse, rescue efforts ongoing
Rescuers scramble through rubble after a multi-storey residential building crumbles in Karachi, raising fresh questions over construction standards. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS Listen to article A five-storey structurally unstable building in Baghdad Colony, Lyari, collapsed more than 48 hours ago, leaving at least 27 people dead, officials said on Sunday. Dr Sabir Memon, Executive Director of Benazir Bhutto Trauma Center, confirmed the death toll. One injured person remains under treatment at the hospital. According to Rescue 1122 officials, the deceased include nine women, 15 men, a 10-year-old boy, and an 18-month-old girl identified as Muqaddas. Another deceased was identified as Shoaib by family members. Many of the deceased belong to the Hindu community. As more debris was cleared, more deceased were retrieved from under the rubble. Rescue teams, assisted by scanning equipment, are continuing efforts to locate more survivors or deceased. During the operation, cash, cheques and jewellery were recovered from three separate locations and handed over to the local union council chairperson. The Edhi Foundation confirmed that the deceased have been transferred to the cold storage facility at Lyari Musa Lane. South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khosa told The Express Tribune that operations are being carried out with utmost care to avoid endangering anyone trapped alive. He noted that the densely populated area has made rescue work difficult. But the teams are equipped with advanced technology, he added. Rescue workers have employed sniffer dogs and heavy machinery as they search the rubble. Resident volunteers along with the police are assisting in the search operation. Read: Most Lyari building collapse victims belong to Hindu community Structural damage Another seven-storey residential building in Lyari's Agra Taj Colony was evacuated late Saturday night after a joint operation by the district administration, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the police. The building was declared dangerous after signs of structural leaning were identified. Severe cracks had appeared in the structure after the recent monsoon spell. Read more: Hope fades as Lyari building collapse toll hits 23 An inspection by SBCA engineers declared the building uninhabitable, prompting emergency evacuation. The residents resisted at first but agreed to leave after successful negotiations. According to South Deputy Commissioner, the building housed 12 flats with 57 residents from 11 families. The building has now been sealed, its power supply has been disconnected and the water tank has been demolished to prevent further danger. 'Unfit for living' Speaking to Express News, Lyari Municipal Officer Hammad ND Khan said that the Sindh government has decided to evacuate all hazardous buildings in Lyari. He said that a formal operation will be decided on Monday during a meeting chaired by the Sindh chief minister. It is expected that all dangerous buildings will be evacuated in phases and demolished. He added that the provincial government will develop a policy to provide alternative housing for the residents of these unsafe structures. Arrangements for temporary accommodation have been made in community centres and hotels for the victims of the collapsed and evacuated buildings, he said. However, most of the affected residents have chosen to stay with their relatives or on-site, he said, adding that TMC Lyari is providing food and other necessities for them. According to Khan, the rescue operation is likely to be end on Sunday. Legal action will be taken under the law against all those involved in illegal constructions in Lyari, he said. One affected woman said the temporary shelter at a KMC school in Lyari was "unfit for living". Demanding accountability for endangered lives, affected residents have accused SBCA officials of accepting bribes, both during and after the building's construction, and ignoring clear violations. After the evacuation, SBCA registered a case at Kalri Police Station against the builder and an unnamed contractor. The FIR states that substandard materials and illegal construction methods were used, putting residents' lives at serious risk, thereby necessitating the sealing of the building. The deputy commissioner said that if any government officials are found complicit in the building's construction, legal action will also be taken against them. He added that residents will be supported in recovering their financial losses from the builder.
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Retailer held for fleecing BISP beneficiary
A monitoring team of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has apprehended a retailer for making an illegal deduction of Rs11,000 from the amount granted to a woman. The team immediately deactivated the payment device used by the retail service provider, Waqar. The action was taken amid allegations of corruption in the disbursement of BISP financial assistance to deserving women in Khanewal. A beneficiary of the social support programme, named Hayat, was deprived of Rs11,000 by the retailer at Lahore Mor. Upon receiving the complaint, the BISP monitoring team acted promptly, recovered the deducted amount and returned it to the recipient. Departmental action was taken by shutting down the retailer's device. In another incident in Zahoorabad, the team recovered dozens of national identity cards from a retailer named Tayyab, but no further action was taken despite evident violations of the relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs). According to sources, the retailers involved in malpractices collect CNICs from widows and other deserving women through their agents, withdraw their funds, and charge them Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 per transaction. There are around 100 sanctioned BISP aid disbursement facilities in Khanewal. However, only three devices have bean activated allegedly due to collusion between franchise owners and officials, the sources said. The women are forced to wait in harsh weather conditions without adequate facilities, but no effective action is taken by the authorities.
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
BISP, Karachi Chamber to boost skill development
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Sindh Director General (DG) Zulfiqar Ali Shaikh has proposed that the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BISP under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme which would enable both institutions to collaborate in identifying demand-driven skills, recommending certified training institutes, and jointly exploring avenues to make the programme successful. "We want to establish a robust mechanism where the business community guides us on labour market needs, so we can ensure that beneficiaries of BISP receive the right training, become employable, and ultimately self-reliant," he said this while exchanging views at a meeting during his visit to KCCI on Monday. DG BISP Sindh emphasised that 10 million families across Pakistan including 2.7 million in Sindh were benefitting from BISP but relying solely on cash stipends is not sustainable in the long term. "With poverty continuing to rise, our approach must evolve. This partnership with KCCI can become a turning point by linking vulnerable households with economic opportunities", he noted, adding that this would not only improve individual livelihoods but also help address skilled labour shortages in Pakistan's industrial and manufacturing sectors. Additional Secretary BISP Dr Tahir Noor elaborated that the government has allocated Rs720 billion this year under BISP, with an Rs13,500 stipend being disbursed to women in eligible families. However, the increasing number of households below the poverty line, now estimated at 45% of the population, requires a paradigm shift. "This is why Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid has championed the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, a pilot project aimed at training individuals from low-income households as per market needs. After training, they will also be equipped with starter kits so they can launch small businesses or find meaningful employment," he said. He said BISP needs KCCI's assistance in identifying the real-time demand of Karachi's industry, endorsing training institutions whose certifications are acceptable in the job market, and ensuring that those trained under the programme can integrate into industrial units with minimal friction. "This is not just about reducing dependency on stipends, this is about creating productive citizens who can contribute to the economy," he remarked. KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani underscored the need for strict oversight to ensure that BISP funds are used efficiently and reach only the most deserving.
Business Recorder
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
BISP to launch Benazir Hunarmand Programme
ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is set to launch Benazir Hunarmand Programme on 21 June, a press release said on Tuesday. This initiative aims at equipping BISP beneficiaries with skills for self-reliance and sustainable employment, the press release added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
BISP to launch retail-based payment model from today
ISLAMABAD: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is set to launch its new retail-based payment model from Monday (today) to protect the beneficiaries from severe heat wave conditions, marking a major shift from the traditional campsite-based disbursement mechanism. This transition aims to ensure safer, more dignified, and accessible payment services for beneficiaries, especially in light of the ongoing heatwave across several regions. In preparation for the disbursement of the Quarter 4 tranche, Additional Secretary BISP Dr. Tahir Noor visited District Khanewal Sunday. The purpose of the visit was to assess field readiness, review arrangements, and engage with district teams and representatives of partner banks to ensure seamless execution of the new payment system. Dr. Tahir Noor underscored that the retail model is being introduced to provide beneficiaries with an improved experience through convenient access points, biometric verification, and a more transparent process that includes printed receipts. He reiterated BISP's commitment to ensuring that cash transfers are made in a manner that upholds the dignity, ease, and respect of every beneficiary. He directed partner banks to ensure the full functionality of all retail outlets. This includes the presence of trained staff, the availability of biometric devices, reliable network connectivity, and the visible display of awareness material to guide beneficiaries at each payment point. Dr Noor also instructed BISP field teams to conduct clear and timely communication campaigns so that all beneficiaries are informed well in advance about the new disbursement procedures. Earlier in the week, Dr. Tahir Noor visited Multan and Bahawalpur as part of his broader South Punjab oversight tour. During these visits, he reviewed field preparations and engaged in coordination meetings with regional BISP officials and representatives of partner financial institutions. He emphasized the importance of strong coordination among all stakeholders, including BISP field staff, partner banks, local administrations, and the beneficiaries themselves. He stressed that the singular focus of all teams should be the delivery of full cash grants to the intended recipients while ensuring their comfort and respect throughout the process. The new retail payment model will formally go into effect from June 16. Beneficiaries are advised to visit only their designated retail outlets with their original CNICs. They must collect their full payments along with printed receipts. In case of any issues or complaints, beneficiaries are encouraged to contact their respective Tehsil BISP office or call the BISP helpline at 0800-26477. This transformation in the payment mechanism represents a significant step forward in BISP's mission to deliver citizen-centric and transparent service delivery to Pakistan's most vulnerable communities.
