Minister Urges Provincial Oversight of BISP Amid Fraud Allegations
The State Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Kheal Das Kohistani, has called for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to be handed over to provincial governments amid serious corruption allegations. This demand comes after reports revealed significant beneficiary removals and payment suspensions within the federal welfare scheme.
Corruption Claims Shake BISP’s Credibility
Recent disclosures in the National Assembly indicated that between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, BISP removed over 2.25 million beneficiaries from its database and halted payments to more than 800,000 others. An audit also uncovered that during 2019-20, 140,488 government employees and their relatives were unjustly listed as beneficiaries.
Officials have recovered upwards of Rs712 million from fraudulent and ineligible recipients, with Rs545 million retrieved through efforts by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Rs21 million from within BISP staff. Additionally, the ministry reported receiving 55,579 complaints last year involving unauthorized deductions, embezzlement, and misuse of beneficiary funds.
Calls for Action and Devolution of Control
Minister Kohistani alleged that corruption remains rampant particularly in Sindh, where middlemen and government workers extort money from beneficiaries during various stages of the fund withdrawal process. He urged law enforcement and regulatory bodies to crack down on this “corruption mafia” and recover monetary losses.
Advocating for restructuring, Kohistani suggested that BISP, which manages an annual budget exceeding Rs800 billion, should be transferred to provincial jurisdictions. He argued that local governments would be better equipped to oversee the program and manage its financial responsibilities.
Implications for Pakistan’s Social Safety Net
The BISP represents a cornerstone of Pakistan’s social welfare framework, aiming to support low-income and vulnerable families. The reported mismanagement and corruption cast a shadow over its efficacy, potentially undermining public trust and delaying aid to genuine beneficiaries.
For Pakistani citizens reliant on these payments, ensuring transparency and accountability is essential. Decentralizing control might improve oversight but also requires robust provincial capacity to manage such a vast assistance program prudently.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation noted the ongoing efforts to audit and cleanse the beneficiary lists to safeguard resources and improve service delivery.
As BISP continues its reforms, the government’s approach to combating corruption and improving governance will significantly affect millions of Pakistani families dependent on these vital payments.
