ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel Wednesday took serious notice of blockage of 400,000 cards of Benazir Income Support Programme beneficiaries, deciding to engage the National Database and Registration Authority to resolve the issue.
During the session, lawmakers emphasised the urgent need for a clear strategy with the registration authority to unblock the cards and ensure uninterrupted financial relief for the poor families registered with the social protection programme.
The issue was raised in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety held in the Parliament House.
Senator Sardar Al-Haj Mohammad Umer Gorgaij chaired the meeting. Committee members stressed that coordinating with the database authority is the most viable way forward to verify eligible recipients and streamline the welfare delivery system.
The committee also called for the lifting of the recruitment ban in the Benazir Income Support Program and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, while raising concerns over vacant posts, deputation policies.
The committee directed that appointment on deputation to BISP fromEducation and Health sectors be discouraged.
Accordingly, it was briefed that currently, 17 individuals were working on deputation at Baitul Mal across the country, while 45 employees had, recently been promoted.
The minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety apprised the panel that the Ministry of Finance and Revenue had already been approached on the matter and proposed that the committee should recommend the assurance of smooth transition of the pending recruitment and assured that the same shall be presented before the prime minister.
The committee was also briefed over the recovery of Rs1.9 million as House Rent Allowance from an officer of Pakistan Baitul Mal.
It was also apprised that a minute portion of HRA was recovered leaving an outstanding amount of Rs1.55 million.
Senator Rubina Qaimkhani, Senator Jan Mohammad and Senator Dost Ali Jeesar and Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah attended the meeting.
Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026
