DADU: The Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) has recovered Rs18.5 million of Benazir Income Support Programme from 150 out of 224 wives of government officers who had been illegally drawing the financial aid meant for poor women.

Most of the women were spouses of officers in grade 18, 19 and above posted in various departments of federal and Sindh governments who had withdrawn the BISP aid over several years.

The FIA had issued notices to 92 such women of Dadu and Jamshoro districts asking them to appear in FIA office Hyderabad circle on Monday, said FIA inspector Ramesh Kumar.

He said that a total of 224 errant women belonged to Hyderabad region and FIA had so far recovered Rs18.5 million from 150 and the process was under way to take back the amount from the remaining women.

He said that nine FIRs had been registered against the illegal beneficiaries of BISP. The FIA had cleared Matiari and Tando Allahyar as it had recovered the BISP amount from illegal beneficiaries in the two districts, he said.

He said that majority of women were wives of officers and around 16 had received the aid money despite being officers in both Sindh and federal governments.

He said that 78 wives of officers belonged to Dadu and 14 hailed from Jamshoro districts. The notices had been issued to them directing them to appear at FIA office in Hyderabad circle, he said.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2020