Islamabad: Pakistan’s flagship poverty alleviation program, the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), has been hit by another scandal, with the Auditor General revealing that 324 government officials siphoned off more than Rs 37 million meant for the poor, local media reported on Sunday.
According to the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), officials ranging from Grade 1 to Grade 22 were found complicit in the fraud, highlighting corruption at every level of the bureaucracy, The Express Tribune reported.
The BISP, which provides support to millions of impoverished citizens, has repeatedly faced allegations of misuse. Earlier this year, audits exposed financial irregularities worth Rs 141 billion in the program for FY24, including payments to ineligible beneficiaries, fake biometric verifications and funds disbursed to deceased individuals.
The report noted that bank staff and retailers have also been charging illegal fees to beneficiaries attempting to withdraw funds using their BISP cards. In several cases, those caught misappropriating funds managed to evade prosecution despite being publicly named.
Analysts said the pattern reflects a deeply entrenched culture of impunity in government departments, with weak accountability measures failing to deter repeat violations. Stronger controls, including transparent biometric systems, stricter verification and independent monitoring, have been recommended to curb the misuse of funds.
BISP currently supports nearly 58 million people, close to a quarter of Pakistan’s population. Observers warn that continued corruption could undermine public trust and international donor confidence in the scheme, depriving the country’s most vulnerable citizens of crucial aid.