The report further highlights the disturbing trend of diverting funds to ineligible individuals.
BISP Faces Scandal Over Rs100 Billion Fund Misuse. Pakistan’s leading cash transfer program, the Benazir Income Support Program, has been hit by mismanagement of a Rs100 billion fund.
Local media reports shared shocking revelations made in a recent financial audit that revealed major irregularities worth over Rs141 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24. The audit report showed multiple cases of financial mismanagement, including unauthorized payments, illegal withdrawals and misuse of funds for educational scholarships.
According to the latest findings, tens of thousands of beneficiaries received payments without valid identity cards, totaling over three million people, while they were paid a total of Rs116.95 billion.
The report further highlights the disturbing trend of diverting funds to ineligible individuals. Rs4 billion was paid to tax filers, and Rs60 million was distributed to families of government employees, both of whom were not entitled to receive financial assistance.
It also uncovered alleged misuse of school scholarships as unauthorized students received more than Rs11.5 million, and Rs13.8 million was paid to over 5 million students who were absent despite attending classes. In addition, Rs154.2 million was distributed to over 57,000 students who did not meet the 70 percent attendance requirement, and Rs2.8 million was distributed through illegal enrollment.
Other financial discrepancies uncovered in the report include Rs454.7 million being withdrawn from cash grants earmarked for specific districts and Rs115 million being wrongly deducted from beneficiaries’ accounts.
The audit further highlighted unauthorised payments of Rs77.2 million under the household survey category, and Rs63.7 million in deputation allowances of ineligible employees.
The shocking findings of the audit raised questions about the oversight of the Benazir Income Support Program and its role in providing assistance to Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations.
