PAC Finds BISP Paid Millions to Dead Beneficiaries, Govt Officials

A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Mueen Aamir Wattoo, has revealed serious financial irregularities in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), including payments made to deceased beneficiaries and ineligible government employees. According to audit reports of the Poverty Alleviation Division for the fiscal years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23, irregularities worth Rs. 96 billion were identified. The audit disclosed that over the past two years, Rs. 15 million in BISP funds were disbursed to deceased beneficiaries. In 2021-22, assistance was paid to 842 individuals who had passed away, while in 2022-23, a further 34 deceased beneficiaries received payments. BISP Secretary confirmed the irregularities but said recovery efforts were underway. The reports also revealed that during three financial years, hundreds of government employees received BISP assistance illegally. Shockingly, the spouses of senior officers in Grade 19 to 22 were also among the recipients. According to the FIA, so far 878 FIRs have been registered, and 272 government employees involved in receiving BISP payments have been arrested. The PAC sub-committee has recommended criminal proceedings against officers from Grade 16 to 22 and recovery of funds directly from their salaries. The audit further revealed that the accounts of 297,000 BISP beneficiaries remained inactive for up to six months, leaving over Rs. 7 billion idle in banks without being disbursed. Moreover, banks faced no penalties for failing to de-credit these funds. BISP officials explained that these issues are largely related to the COVID-19 period, but said reforms have since been introduced, and funds are now automatically returned if no activity is recorded in beneficiary accounts for nine months. Committee members, however, urged caution. “Decisions must be made keeping ground realities in view,” said Convener Mueen Aamir, noting that many elderly women were unable to withdraw their stipends in time. The sub-committee decided to defer the matter for further review.