Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: No mechanism has been worked out in the newly conducted survey to prevent the fake beneficiaries from receiving stipends under the BISP. Under the BISP assistance over Rs 100 billion is provided to poor people and the government has decided to integrate millions of people into this programme in the fiscal year for 2016-17. But the fake beneficiaries, who are in large numbers, are also benefiting from this programme. The World Bank (WB) had also taken notice of the malpractice and asked the government to address the drawbacks. The government had assured the WB that steps would be taken to make the programme transparent besides conducting the survey afresh. The BISP was launched in 2008 and the lists of beneficiaries were collected from local MNAs and MPAs and these elected representatives had benefited the electorates of their respective constituencies through these lists. The then PPP led government conducted a public survey in 2010 and the contract was awarded to different companies. The data was collected at doorsteps under this survey. The data collector had no authority to check it. Sources said that the government had allocated Rs 115 billion for the BISP in the budget for the year 2016-17 and a new survey was atop the list and it was being carried out in 16 districts. These districts include Chakwal, Faisalabad, Layyah and Bahawalpur from Punjab, Sukkar, Thatha from Sindh, Lakki Murawat, Charsada and Hari pur from KPK, Nasirabad, Qilla Saifullah and Kaich from Balochistan, Mirpur from AJK, Gilgit from Gilgit-Baltistan and Mohmand agency from FATA. Sources said that difficulties would have to be faced in the next survey due to the lack of any mechanism in terms of irregularities. This way the right of deserving people would also be encroached upon.