ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has registered FIRs against 12 of its agents, and eight of them have also been arrested after they were found responsible for defrauding the poor beneficiaries and making deductions from the fixed amount of financial assistance the social safety net provides to the registered poor families.

Secretary BISP disclosed this in a live e-Kuchehry here on Tuesday. He said that a total of 897 complaints have been resolved so far, leading to the recovery of more than Rs. 1.4 million.

In a swift response to these matters, BISP management has taken immediate action against the agents responsible for deductions.

One specific complaint regarding the unauthorised withdrawal of funds from a beneficiary’s stipend was addressed decisively by Secretary BISP. He directed the Human Resources department to immediately issue suspension orders for the concerned official in the respective region to ensure a swift and just resolution.

He emphasised the commitment of the Benazir Income Support Programme to ensure efficient and transparent disbursement of financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries.

He stated, “The live e-Kutcheri is an integral part of our ongoing efforts to address grievances and concerns raised by our beneficiaries. We are dedicated to providing timely solutions and improving the overall experience for those who rely on BISP for support.”

This online interactive session, hosted on BISP’s official Facebook page, served as a follow-up to a meeting held last week, meant to address the unresolved complaints related to the tranche disbursement under the Benazir Kafaalat Programme.

During the live e-Katcheri, Secretary BISP actively engaged with BISP beneficiaries and the general public, listening to their live calls and inquiries. He took the opportunity to directly communicate with the beneficiaries and understand the challenges they encountered during the registration process.

The issues brought up during the session primarily revolved around eligibility status and the non-provision of financial assistance. In response, Secretary BISP promptly issued directives to the concerned officers to establish direct contact with the affected beneficiaries and resolve their concerns within a day.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2023