Financial irregularities involving approximately Rs24 billion have been reported in Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), with 140,488 government employees and their family members identified in connection with payments made under the programme, according to documents presented before the National Assembly.
The disclosures have raised concerns about beneficiary verification, financial oversight and the recovery of public funds, as authorities have recovered only around Rs710 million against the reported irregularities.
According to documents submitted by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, government employees and pensioners received approximately Rs23.13 billion from BISP during the fiscal year 2019–20. The records indicate that irregularities were identified in 2019, yet payments reportedly continued, with a further Rs900 million disbursed after the employees concerned had been identified.
The documents also provide details of government employees who received BISP funds in subsequent financial years. During 2020–21, more than 12,000 employees reportedly received Rs146.7 million. The records further identify 2,447 employees in 2021–22, 2,235 in 2022–23, 227 in 2023–24 and 12,078 in 2024–25.
The reported irregularities were not limited to government employees themselves. According to the documents, spouses of employees were also among those linked to the payments. As many as 236 BISP employees were also identified as recipients of funds intended for eligible beneficiaries.
Recovery Remains Limited
The recovery figures show a substantial difference between the reported amount of irregularities and the money recovered so far.
According to the reported breakdown, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) recovered approximately Rs540 million from government employees linked to the cases. Other government departments recovered around Rs145 million, while BISP recovered Rs21.5 million from its own employees.
Together, these recoveries amount to approximately Rs706.5 million, commonly rounded to around Rs710 million. The limited recovery has renewed questions about the effectiveness of the mechanisms used to verify beneficiaries and prevent ineligible recipients from accessing financial assistance intended for low-income families.
Further Scrutiny of Government Employees and Pensioners
The documents state that records of government employees allegedly involved in the irregularities have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for further action.
Authorities have also planned additional scrutiny of records relating to more than 600,000 government employees and pensioners to identify potential cases of ineligible payments and determine the extent of recoverable funds.The recovery and investigation processes remain ongoing, according to the reported disclosures.
BISP is one of Pakistan’s major social protection programmes, providing financial assistance to eligible low-income households. Ensuring that payments reach their intended recipients is essential to protecting public resources and maintaining confidence in the programme.
The latest disclosures highlight the need for effective eligibility checks, stronger data verification and timely recovery measures. The outcome of the ongoing investigations will be important in establishing individual responsibility and determining how much of the reported amount can ultimately be recovered.
Source-Local Newspaper
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