Scores of poor and needy endlessly waiting in queues outside ‘one-window operation’ in Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal head office is a common sight. On an average working day, their number swells to more than a hundred. While those politically connected or have some ‘reference’ get direct access to officials for approval, attestation of financial assistance.
Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM), established back in 1991 through a parliamentary act, has an expressed mission of providing social protection to poor and marginalised segments of the society. However, many visitors say that like many other government institutions, PBM has also fallen prey to red-tapism, favouritism and parchi system.
PBM launched one-window system back in 2014 in its head office situated in sector H-8, Islamabad. The facility greatly helps people about the status of their applications, investigation reports and other documentation. During its inauguration, PBM Managing Director Barrister, Abid Waheed Sheikh, talked about strengthening PBM by making it more transparent, efficient and accessible to the deserving people.
While great many are left to find their way through formalities, including fulfilling documentation requirements before initial nod and final approval of a grant from MD, touts of influential politicians and those who come with a ‘reference’ are ushered in directly, where officers go out of the way to facilitate them.
Since 2015, the total allocation of funds has been doubled. At present, the federal government gives Rs 4 billion grant in aid to Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal. This year, however, an additional supplementary grant of Rs 500 million was given to PBC for making payments to Pakistani workers stranded in Saudi Arabia.
“We can’t complain of corruption or misbehaving in Pakistan Bait-ul-mal, but the practice of giving preferential treatment to those who have a reference must be ended. If the rule is to stand in the queues, then everyone must stand in the queues. No trespassing should be allowed. Everybody should be treated equally,” said Muhammad, a visitor, while talking to Pakistan Today.
When contacted, Barrister Abid Waleed Sheikh said that no application is entertained at one-window until and unless it is marked by him. “We have pre-defined criteria where we give priority to widows and old people. We reject many cases then and there, especially those aged 18-50 who can earn a living, and we don’t submit their applications,” he said.
“Approved cases are then forwarded to the one-window operation, where investigation reports are prepared. Then there are those cases which we’ve prioritised who need immediate support – like cancer patients – we provide them amount needed to suffice their purpose,” he added.
When asked whether he is personally supervising hundreds of cases every day, Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh said that he personally meets 250-300 individuals every single day. “We submit 30 to 50 cases at the end of the day, which fall within the ambit of our criteria. Let’s say if we have 30 cases, and 10 among them are widows, they’ll automatically qualify. We discourage young ladies. We consider special children on a priority basis,” he said.
In a reply to whether all the allegations of touts having preferential access are mere rumours, MD Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal said that the individuals whose cases had been rejected on merit must be spreading this rumour about favouritism or parchi system.
