ISLAMABAD:- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament has expressed serious concerns over the financial embezzlement of Rs19 billion in Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and recommended to the Prime Minister to remove the Secretary PISP on his non-serious attitude.
The PAC met under the Chariman Noor Alam Khan here in Islamabad on Thursday here in Islamabad.
The member committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed repeatedly questioned to the Secretary PISB that there are reports that thousands of officials and officers and their family members have illegally drawn Rs19 billion through honoraria of BISP over the years which is for the poorest segment of the society.
The officials of the BISP told the committee that they have terminated 43 officials and officers who are involved in the scam and recovered the looted amount from them.
They said that the 143 thousands servants belong to Federal and Province governments and their family members were added in the PISP program and they have been receiving honoraria. Around 2500 officers of grade 17 and above and their family members were also among those who have taken amount of BISP
Senator Mushahid Hussain expressed serious concerns over the situation and asked what action was taken against these government employees. The Secretary BISP said that he has taken charge two weeks ago and he is not in position to brief the committee.
The Chairman PAC also expressed serious concerns over the response of the officials of the BISP and Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Net.
Noor Alam has directed to the Secretary of PAC to write a letter to the Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Poverty over the non professional attitude of Secretary and Director General Cash Transfer of BISP.
He said that this amount is of the poorest segment of the society who has not money to purchase shows which was looted by the officers and officials. However, the Secretary and DG is not ready to brief the committee.
Over the non-serious attitude of the GD Cash Transfer of BISP during the meeting, the Chairman expelled him from committee meeting.
The Chairman directed to the Secretary Committee to write on behalf of the PAC to remove the Secretary and DG Cash Transfer of the BISP immediately. He said that he is ready to resign from the post of Chairman PAC but will not compromise on accountability.
Noor Alam Khan also recommended to Chief Secretaries to recover the looted amount through deduction of salary and pension of those who involved in the corruption.