Startling revelations have surfaced about senior government officers unlawfully receiving financial aid under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which is exclusively meant for the country’s underprivileged citizens.
During a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) sub-committee, chaired by Convener Moeen Amir Pirzada, audit objections related to the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division were reviewed.
According to the BISP Secretary, hundreds of civil servants — including 630 officers of Grade 19, 85 officers of Grade 20, and even Grade 22 officials — were found to have benefited from the programme.
He remarked that such individuals had no moral justification to claim aid meant for the poor.
The committee was also informed that wives, pensioners, and family members of government employees had been receiving financial assistance, while in some cases, payments were even issued under the names of deceased persons.
PAC instructed that all such cases be verified and recovery measures initiated. Audit authorities clarified that government employees are not entitled to receive BISP funds.
The FIA officials revealed that so far, 879 FIRs have been registered, 292 individuals arrested, and charge sheets submitted in courts. The committee recommended that criminal proceedings be initiated against officers of Grade 16 and above found guilty of misusing the welfare programme.
