Financial assistance to 5.28 million beneficiaries provided under BISP: Senate told

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan on Thursday informed the Senate financial assistance to 5.28 million has been provided to the beneficiaries since 2012 under Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

Replying to various questions during Question Hour, the minister said the total amount of assistance provided to these beneficiaries since 2012 come at Rs. 466.237 billion.

He said in later part of 2014, out of a total of 5.7 million beneficiaries, suspected/wrong CNIC updates were reported by BISP field offices, therefore Cash Management System (CMs) operations were suspended in February, 2015.

NADRA was requested to validate the genuineness of females who became beneficiaries through Cash Management System, he said.

He said It was decided between BISP and NADRA to manually verify the data and for this purpose of special Sanity application was developed by NADRA. It took BISP three months to Manually verify 0.583 (M) records.

As a result 125,714 beneficiaries were found as doubtful and their payment was blocked. Show Cause Notices to 69 officials were issued and on recommendations of the Inquiry Committee disciplinary proceedings were initiated under E&D Rules against 69 officials., he said.

To another question, the minister said Since 2008, no voluntary separation scheme (VSS) was floated by the Bank. However, a Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) was introduced by the Bank in November, 2005.

He said out of 355 permanent employees, 343 opted for the said scheme.

Those who opted for the scheme were relieved in phases. Till date 328 such employees have been relieved from Bank’s service and 15 such employees whose services are essentially needed have not been relieved as the Bank was not in a position to hire new staff.