The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has blocked 229,157 government employees or their spouses from receiving financial assistance after identifying them through verification audits, while recovering Rs712.4 million from recipients found ineligible for support. The government shared the details in Parliament, stating that the action was taken as part of ongoing efforts to improve transparency, strengthen beneficiary verification and ensure financial assistance reaches eligible individuals. Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah provided the information in a written reply to a parliamentary question, outlining recovery measures, data profiling activities and reforms introduced within the programme.
According to the minister, the total recovered amount of Rs712.4 million includes Rs545.784 million recovered through Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Rs21.550 million collected from BISP employees and Rs145.066 million recovered from other government departments. Recovery proceedings have also been initiated against 236 BISP employees, with disciplinary action taken against officials found involved in irregularities. The minister said updated records of government employees and pensioners were collected from Controller General of Accounts (CGA), ministries, autonomous bodies and state owned enterprises (SOEs). More than six million records have been forwarded for profiling and additional review as part of the verification process. He added that the number of identified ineligible beneficiaries and the recoverable amount may continue to change as the data updating, profiling, blocking and recovery process moves forward.
The government also clarified that 32,971 cases among the 229,157 blocked government employee linked beneficiaries were exempted from recovery because their monthly pension was Rs29,000 or below. This exemption was granted according to a decision made by BISP Board. Alongside beneficiary verification, BISP is also addressing concerns related to illegal deductions, unauthorized charges, fraudulent biometric verification and other payment related complaints. The minister said complaints are reviewed individually and action is taken according to applicable rules. Cases involving banks and payment service providers are referred to relevant institutions for investigation and resolution, with possible measures including penalties, recovery of irregular amounts and further action where necessary. Legal or disciplinary proceedings are also initiated in cases involving fraud or serious malpractice to protect beneficiaries and maintain the integrity of payment systems.
BISP currently distributes financial assistance through retail networks operated by six partner financial institutions (PFIs). These networks are monitored through field visits, beneficiary complaints, system based controls, inspections and audits. Where irregularities are identified, actions may include suspension or blacklisting of agents, recovery of funds and penalties under contractual agreements. However, the parliamentary response did not provide consolidated figures for the total number of bank branches, campsites, point of sale (POS) agents, other agents or ATMs involved in disbursement activities. Details regarding bank wise and province wise information were referred to an annexure. The government said BISP is gradually moving toward digital and direct payment mechanisms through Social Protection Wallets (SPWs) to reduce human involvement and decrease beneficiaries’ reliance on intermediaries. The initiative aims to improve transparency, convenience and security while ensuring beneficiaries receive the complete amount approved under the programme.
The minister further stated that BISP has developed and implemented an Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS), which is connected with partner financial institutions to improve complaint handling, transparency and payment security within State Bank of Pakistan regulatory requirements. The system allows complaints to be managed through a structured process while supporting stronger oversight of financial assistance distribution. Future improvements to the grievance management framework will be introduced gradually based on operational requirements. Through continued audits, digital payment reforms and improved monitoring systems, BISP is working to enhance accountability and strengthen delivery mechanisms for social protection assistance across Pakistan.
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