The Sindh Assembly recently revealed that over 28,500 employees of the Sindh provincial government were found illegally receiving benefits from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). These employees or their spouses were listed as beneficiaries of the BISP 10500 Programme, despite not being eligible for this financial aid aimed at the most vulnerable in society.
Sindh Assembly’s Investigation and Findings Regarding BISP
Education Minister Sardar Shah informed the assembly that 28,549 government employees in Sindh were identified for their spouses’ illegal enlistment as BISP beneficiaries. The verification process for these cases is underway and managed by the provincial departments. This discovery was made in response to a call attention notice from Dr. Fouzia Hameed, a member of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).
- Total Employees Identified: 28,549
- Reason for Enlistment: Spouses were illegally added as BISP beneficiaries
- Verification Process: Currently ongoing by provincial departments
- Action Plan: Recovered funds after verification with NADRA
Nationwide BISP Employee Audit
The BISP previously conducted a nationwide audit during 2018-2019 and found 821,000 government employees across Pakistan whose spouses were listed as beneficiaries under the program. This list was shared with respective provincial governments for action, and Sindh is currently in the verification phase.
Actions and Next Steps
Once the verification process is complete, BISP aims to recover the funds that were wrongfully claimed by these government employees. The recovery process will be in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to ensure accuracy.
Impact of Misuse on BISP Beneficiaries
The misuse of the BISP program funds by government employees means that deserving citizens were deprived of financial assistance. This revelation is part of an ongoing effort by BISP to ensure the funds only reach those genuinely in need.
Conclusion
The identification of thousands of ineligible government employees in the BISP 10500 Programme underscores the importance of stringent checks and transparency in welfare programs. Through active verification and cooperation with NADRA, BISP is working to recover the funds, ensuring only the rightful beneficiaries receive support.