ISLAMABAD
Several women in Muzaffargarh, Punjab reportedly lost their consciousness as Mercury crossed 40C in funds distribution centre of Benazir Income Support Program, officials said on Friday.
Station House Officers (SHO) of Muzaffargarh told that he saw few women during his routine visit of various sites, who had fainted at distribution centre established at a government elementary school.
A video also showed SHO fanning women who collapsed.
SHO told that he immediately called medical aid.
According to AccuWeather.com, the temperature in the city was recorded to be 38 degrees Celsius at around 11:45am.
A press release issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) a day ago warns that “prevailing heat wave conditions are likely to subside from June 25”.
It states, “Moist currents are penetrating in upper and central parts of the country from Arabian Sea and a westerly wave is likely to enter in upper parts of the country on June 25.”
The advisory further forecasts “pre-monsoon rains with dust thunderstorm predicted in upper and central parts from June 25-30 with occasional gaps”.
In an advisory released on June 19, the PMD forecast heatwave-like conditions in most parts of the country from June 20-24 along with a gradual increase in day temperatures.
The women, who had lined up to receive aid distributed under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), complained about mismanagement at the centre and an alleged deduction from the funds.
One of them told that she was supposed to be paid Rs9,000 but received Rs8,500 instead, and claimed she was threatened her BISP card would be blocked if she complained about it to someone.
Another lamented that she, along with other women, was being “insulted” as the officials did not listen to their concerns.
Videos showed more than two dozen people, mostly women, gathered at the distribution centre.
Meanwhile, Muzaffargarh Deputy Commissioner Suleman Lodhi said that BISP District Manager Mohammad Fayaz and the city assistant commissioner had been directed to provide all necessary facilities to the people at the distribution centre.
They were also ordered to register cases against the officials involved in the embezzlement of BISP funds.
Two first information reports (FIRs) — registered on June 19 and 20 by BISP officials Rashid Zafar and Raheem Ali, respectively — name more than 10 “retailers and operators” collectively for being involved in “committing fraud and grabbing BISP fund’s money from the women”.
The FIRs invoke Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
