Shop roof collapse kills five women in Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan
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- First seen: March 16, 2026 at 12:04 PM UTC
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- Last updated: March 17, 2026 at 06:04 PM UTC
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Chairperson says BISP not responsible for cash disbursement after deaths at payment point in Rahim Yar Khan
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Rubina Khalid on Tuesday said that the programme was not responsible for the process of disbursement of cash, saying that it had been “outsourced” to banks. The statement comes a day after at least seven women were killed and more than 75 were injured during a roof collapse when hundreds of women gathered at a retail shop in Rahim Yar Khan’s Tibba area to collect BISP handouts. Speaking to the media during a visit to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan on Tuesday, Khalid maintained that BISP was not responsible for disbursing cash handouts. “We don’t have any mechanism for disbursement, so when you outsource something, the responsibility falls on the banks,” she said. Khalid termed it unfortunate that the programme — an initiative aimed at uplifting people — was pushed to the “background” while “actual criminals … are not asked why their retailers and franchises are doing this”. She said that BISP had no “direct relation” to retailers or franchises, adding that the banks were the ones in contact with them. “We are going to be imposing fines on them, and a first information report will be filed naming people present at the site of the incident,” she added. She asserted that those responsible would be held accountable. At the outset of her talk, Khalid said, “We share the grief of the bereaved families. People who are responsible for the incident will be given strict punishment”. The BISP chairperson said the women who suffered minor injuries had been discharged from the hospital, while 17 women had suffered major injuries. One of the injured was in a serious condition, she said. She said cheques of Rs1 million and Rs300,000 were being distributed to the heirs of the victims and the injured women, respectively. She said that the financial assistance could not replace the loss of lives, but it would serve as “some relief”. Khalid mentioned that yesterday’s payment was the last instalment paid under the old system, saying that from the next quarter, payments would be made under the new digital wallet system. “We will make the distribution of devices, funds, and procedures more transparent,” the BISP chairperson said, adding the payments would be delivered to women on time with “dignity and respect in line with the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif”. On Monday, reports said more than 200 women had gathered outside Sajjad Karyana Store, a designated BISP retailer, at Chak 123-P Tibba, about 13km from the city. Many of them had moved to the first floor of the shop, waiting for their turn to receive the cash handouts. According to eyewitnesses, the roof, reportedly built with weak T-iron and girders, could not withstand the weight of the large crowd and suddenly collapsed. Initially, local residents started rescue efforts on a self-help basis before emergency services were called. An eyewitness said women had been waiting at the shop since morning, but the retailer had not started releasing payment despite having several devices. Many women were reportedly directed to wait on the first floor, which resulted in overcrowding.
DawnMarch 17, 2026 at 01:03 PM UTCAt least 7 dead in roof collapse at Rahim Yar Khan shop
RAHIM YAR KHAN: At least seven women died and several others were injured on Monday when the roof of a shop collapsed in Rahim Yar Khan’s Chak 123-P Tibba locality. A statement issued by the district administration said the incident occurred at 10:39am when beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) had gathered at the grocery store that housed a retailer for BISP payments. The statement confirmed that seven women lost their lives in the incident and several others had been injured. The death toll was also confirmed by Rescue 1122, which said 75 people had been injured in the incident. The district administration’s statement quoted Divisional Commissioner Musarrat Jabeen as stating that an investigation was being conducted, and if it was found that the roof collapsed due to anyone’s negligence, strict legal action would be taken against those responsible. The statement also said that an investigation committee had been constituted, which was led by the additional deputy commissioner (general). The committee would submit its report within 24 hours, it added. In a statement, BISP earlier said “women beneficiaries of the BISP were present along with other women at a payment point of a private bank” when the incident occurred. The BISP announced that Rs1 million in compensation would be given to the families of the deceased and Rs300,000 to the injured women. The payments will be made by tomorrow, the statement added. The BISP said a notice has been issued to the partner bank and “a heavy fine would be imposed”. The programme vowed that a “transparent investigation” would be conducted into the matter and strict legal action would be taken against the representatives of the partner bank. BISP Chairperson Rubina Khalid, on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, departed for Rahim Yar Khan to visit the site of the incident and review the situation, the statement said. President Zardari “expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident at a [private] payment point”, where “BISP beneficiary women were also present”. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the injured, the Presidency said. The president also directed Khalid to visit the site immediately. District administration spokesperson, Mohammad Ateeq Khan, told Dawn that initial reports suggested more than 200 people were gathered around the shop when the incident occurred. The roof, built with substandard material, could not bear the load of the women and collapsed, he said. BISP Rahim Yar Khan Director Talha Bin Amman initially told Dawn that at least five women died, while 20 were injured during the mishap. “The majority of women were at the shop because of [upcoming] Eid.”
DawnMarch 16, 2026 at 05:47 PM UTCAt least five killed in Rahim Yar Khan roof collapse
RAHIM YAR KHAN: At least five women were killed and several others were injured when the roof of a shop collapsed during the distribution of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) payments in Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan district, officials from the district administration and the BISP said. District administration spokesperson, Mohammad Ateeq Khan, while speaking to Dawn said reports suggest more than 200 people were gathered near local shop in the Chak 123-P Tibba locality when the incident occurred. The roof, built with substandard material, could not bear the load of the women and collapsed. Rescue 1122 officials started relief activities and shifted the injured to Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital (SZMCH), where an emergency was declared by the district administration. BISP Rahim Yar Khan Director Talha Bin Amman also told Dawn that five women died, while 20 were injured during the mishap. “The majority of women were at the shop because of [upcoming] Eid.” However, initial reports by the district administration stated that 57 injured people were brought to the hospital, with one of them in a critical condition. On the other hand, an eyewitness said seven women died on the spot, while more than 30 were injured during the stampede. The women were waiting at the shop since morning, but the retailer was not releasing the amount to them, despite having multiple devices. Instead, they were instructed to wait on the first floor. President Asif Ali Zardari “expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident at a [private] payment point, where he said “BISP beneficiary women were also present”. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the injured, the Presidency said. The president also directed BISP Chairperson Rubina Khalid to “visit immediately”. Senator Khalid, in a statement, said the BISP administration was dispatching a “high-level committee” to Rahim Yar Khan to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and submit a detailed report within 24 hours. “I am deeply saddened over the tragic incident that took place in Rahim Yar Khan today. In complete solidarity with the affected families, I am travelling to Rahim Yar Khan to assess the situation,” she said, adding that BISP stood with the affected families. In a statement, BISP announced that Rs1 million in compensation would be given to the families of the deceased and Rs300,000 to the injured women. The payments will be made by tomorrow, it added. The BISP said a notice has been issued to the partner bank and “a heavy fine would be imposed”. The programme vowed that a “transparent investigation” would be conducted into the matter and strict legal action would be taken against the representatives of the partner bank. A detailed report of the incident was being prepared by the district administration and Rescue 1122. Rahim Yar Khan Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa and District Police Officer Irfan Ali Sammo visited the site and monitored the rescue operations. They also visited the injured at a hospital.
DawnMarch 16, 2026 at 12:01 PM UTC