KHAR: The Benazir Income Support Programme has launched a biometric system for the verification of the financial support`s recipients in Bajaur Agency.

A local BISP official told Dawn that the system launched with the support of a major mobile phone service provider was meant to make payments to thousands of the programme`s beneficiaries on their doorstep.

He said the BISP had established 35 biometric verification system centres across the agency, including Khar.

The of ficial claimed that a special focus had been given to the far-flung and remote areas of the agency for the launch of the BVS.

He said efforts were under way to establish more such centres in the agency to the benefit of the deserving people.

The official said more than 35,000 people had received payments through local BVS centres during the last few days.

Meanwhile, the BISP beneficiaries, including women, welcomed the launch of the BVS and said the initiative had saved them from the trouble of going to Timergara in Lower Dir district for receiving payments.

`Since going out of the area alone is not considered to be good for women in line with our customs and therefore, I lil(e others felt very uncomfortable whenever I`d to go to distant BISP centres to receive payments. However, I`ve been much relieved now since the opening of this centre here,` said Gul Pari, a resident of Mandal area.

Sultana Begum of Salarzai area also said before the launch of the BVS in Bajaur, she had to cover long distances and wait for long hours at banks and shops to get payments.

She added that she returned many times without getting payments.

Other residents, too, welcomed the initiative and said it would ensure transparency and fairness in payment of money to the deserving people.Correspondent