THE reports appearing in the media of more than 800,000 persons being removed from the list of regular recipients of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for being ineligible are shocking.

However, the more startling fact is that a large number of these persons happen to be the close relatives — including spouses — of government officers serving in grades 17 to 21. This is nothing short of an unpardonable sin.

It is unbelievable that the morals of our society have sunk to such a low level. How is it that government servants in senior positions did not have even an iota of conscience while stealing petty sums that were meant to provide sustenance to widows, orphans and the destitute members of society?

The federal and provincial governments should publish in the media the names and photographs of errant officers. Further they should be immediately dismissed from service with no benefits.

The action should also be extended to all those who collaborated and facilitated this sordid deed.

Zafar Iqbal
Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2020