An audit report for the fiscal year 2023-24 has revealed significant financial irregularities totaling approximately Rs141 billion within Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Key Findings:
- Unverified Beneficiaries: Payments amounting to over Rs116.95 billion were made to more than three million beneficiaries lacking registered family Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), raising concerns about fund distribution to ineligible individuals.
- Educational Stipend Mismanagement: Approximately Rs138 million was disbursed to 5.43 million students without attendance verification. Additionally, Rs154 million went to 57,833 students who did not meet the mandatory 70% attendance requirement, and unauthorized students received over Rs10 million in scholarships.
- Payments to Taxpayers: Around Rs 4 billion was improperly paid to individuals listed in the Active Taxpayers List, indicating potential misallocation of resources.
- Unauthorized Withdrawals: Cash grants totaling Rs454.7 million were withdrawn from districts unrelated to beneficiaries’ residences, and Rs11.5 million was unlawfully taken from beneficiaries’ accounts.
- Outstanding Disbursements: BISP has yet to distribute Rs 5.46 million in pending payments to certain beneficiaries, highlighting delays in fund allocation.
- Unauthorized Payments: An unauthorized payment of $7.72 million was made under the household survey, and Rs 63.7 million was improperly allocated as deputation allowances to unauthorized employees.
- Overpayments: The Nashonuma Programme experienced overpayments totaling Rs55 million.
- Non-Recovery of Misappropriated Funds: Approximately Rs40 million lost due to misappropriation remains unrecovered, and there is a Rs30 million shortfall in income tax deductions.
- Funds to Government Employees’ Families: About Rs 6 million from BISP funds were distributed to families of government employees, contrary to program guidelines.
- Unauthorized Student Enrollments: Irregular enrollments in educational stipend programs led to disbursements of Rs2.8 million.
These findings underscore the need for enhanced oversight and stringent verification processes within BISP to ensure that financial aid reaches the intended recipients and to prevent future mismanagement of funds.
