ABBOTTABAD: Concerns have emerged over alleged mismanagement, unauthorized deductions, and administrative shortcomings in the ongoing stipend disbursement under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in Abbottabad district.
According to official data, more than 40,000 beneficiaries have been registered under BISP in the district.The latest quarterly payment cycle commenced on January 26, with 16 active agents of Bank Alfalah assigned to facilitate the disbursement process across designated payment centres.
Reports from multiple disbursement points suggested that beneficiaries are allegedly being charged unauthorized transaction fees ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per payment.More worrying are the allegations that certain retailers and point of sale (POS) agents have deducted Rs 400 or even more from the quarterly stipends of beneficiaries.
Field sources indicated that such practices may be occurring at several authorized payment locations, raising questions about oversight and compliance.Sourced claimed discrepancies in commission structures, stating that filer agents reportedly deduct Rs 18 per transaction, while non-filer agents receive the officially sanctioned commission of Rs 12/ per transaction.
This disparity and low share has sparked concerns about transparency and adherence to approved financial procedures.Under the contractual framework, Bank Alfalah is required to establish one Point of Sale (POS) unit for every 300 beneficiaries.
Given the beneficiary pool exceeding 40,000 in Abbottabad, more than 130 operational POS units are required.However, ground reports suggested that the stipulated number of functional POS facilities has not been ensured, resulting in overcrowding, prolonged waiting hours, and operational inefficiencies.
Beneficiaries, particularly elderly individuals, sick persons, and vulnerable women, are reportedly compelled to endure long queues at payment centers that lack basic facilities and effective monitoring mechanisms.
District supervision of BISP Abbottabad is presently under a woman deputy director serving on deputation from the Higher Education Department. Repeated attempts to obtain her official stance on the issue remained unsuccessful.
Despite the payment cycle having been underway for weeks, only around 25 percent of beneficiaries in Abbottabad have reportedly received stipends.In contrast, sources indicated that approximately 85 percent of disbursements have been completed in several other districts, highlighting an administrative lag in the district.
If the alleged unauthorized deductions persist, preliminary estimates suggested that cumulative financial losses to beneficiaries in Abbottabad alone could approach Rs 20 million, undermining the programme’s objective of providing financial relief to vulnerable households.
Stakeholders and civil society representatives urged the authorities concerned to introduce direct bank transfers into beneficiaries’ personal accounts to minimize reliance on third-party agents, strengthen monitoring and accountability at the district level, and ensure the appointment of experienced, performance-oriented officers to manage stipend disbursement operations efficiently and transparently.
