The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was set up to alleviate poverty and provide financial assistance to the most vulnerable sections of society. However, recent protests by women beneficiaries have highlighted how unscrupulous BISP employees and scammers are harassing and defrauding them. Many women have reported being harassed via thinly veiled advances and promises of better payouts or the resolution of any payment problems. Others alleged corruption, including straight-up fraud through illegal and unjustified deductions. Some women who are unfamiliar with how debit cards work have also been scammed out of their money at ATMs.These abuses not only undermine the programme’s integrity but also deepen the frustrations faced by those it was designed to aid. For many women, especially widows and lower-skilled workers, the BISP is the only thing keeping them out of poverty. The alleged illegal deductions of Rs2,000 to over Rs3,000 can represent a significant loss for families living on the edge of subsistence — at minimum, the deductions amount to between 15% and 25% of the monthly payments to every deserving individual or family.
Unfortunately, the harassment and hardship that come with getting BISP support may not be worth it for many women. Indeed, some women stop seeking any assistance to avoid being forced into an environment of fear.
BISP reforms to make women more comfortable and safe must ensure transparent processes and enforce strict penalties against those who exploit the system. Increased oversight, proper training for staff and the establishment of complaint mechanisms can help restore trust.
And as for citizens who still feel the barely-funded BISP is an unnecessary expense, we must remind that in its heyday, BISP earned praise from the IMF, World Bank and several countries for its contributions to society, including references to the programme as one that should be copied all over the developing world.
Editorial published in the Express Tribune on 16th May 2024