Five arrested in Punjab for illegally cutting BISP payments

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Multan Zone has arrested five individuals for allegedly siphoning off money from beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in different parts of Punjab.

An FIA spokesperson said the arrests were made following a targeted operation against people accused of unlawfully deducting funds from BISP payments meant for deserving women. The suspects were taken into custody during raids conducted in Muzaffargarh and Kot Addu.

Those arrested were identified as Zahid Abbas, Muhammad Shakeel, Shakeel Hussain, Khalid Hussain, and Muhammad Kamil. Investigators allege that the group routinely charged beneficiaries between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 as an illegal “commission” from their financial assistance.

During the raids, officials recovered several national identity cards, record registers, mobile phones, bank connectivity devices, and other material believed to have been used in carrying out the fraud.

According to the FIA, further investigation is underway to determine the scale of the operation. Authorities have not ruled out additional arrests, as the seized evidence is being examined to identify other individuals who may be linked to the scheme.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REVIEWS BISP REFORMS

Yesterday, the Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety reviewed reforms in the BISP, including the launch of a nationwide digital wallet system.

During the meeting, the committee was briefed that the proposed digital wallet system would rely on biometric verification to ensure secure and direct transfers to beneficiaries, significantly reducing dependence on middlemen. Officials explained that the initiative aims to plug long-standing leakages in the payment process while expanding access to formal banking services for millions of low-income households across the country.

Committee members also raised concerns over weaknesses in the existing Point of Sale agent network, noting reports of untrained and underage agents handling sensitive transactions. BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid stressed the need for commercial banks to improve oversight and capacity within the system, warning that operational gaps could undermine the effectiveness of the reforms if not urgently addressed.