20 BISP officials get cars they weren’t supposed to have

The new management of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has awarded 20 vehicles to unauthorised officials while monetisation allowance worth Rs 22.529 million were also given in violation of rules.

The BISP is an umbrella programme launched by the previous government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to help poor people. The programme had attracted massive funding from the World Bank and other donor organisations while a large portion of the Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) was also diverted to increase the total volume of the BISP.

‘NOT SATISFIED’:

BISP Chairman Enver Baig expressed his concern over the state of affairs in the BISP. “I am not in a position to confirm or contradict your data. But one thing I can share with you. I am not satisfied with the state of affairs in the BISP right now,” he added.

Official documents available with Pakistan Today reveal that the BISP handed 20 vehicles to unauthorised officials for “conducting surveys”.

Interestingly, the officials concerned were also unable to present record of the surveys conducted by these officers. Moreover, the documents state that monetisation allowances were also issued to these officers.

The BISP management handed over 20 1,000cc vehicles worth Rs 18.114 million to BS-18 and BS-19 officers and also gave them monetisation allowance worth Rs 4.739 million from February to June, 2013.

The monetisation policy was actually meant for Grade-20 to Grade-22 officials but the BISP board approved the same policy for grade 17, 18 and 19 officers. Moreover, the policy was meant only for regular staff but the contractual officials were also made to avail this opportunity.

According to the documents, the auditors observed that the BISP board had not approved regulations to determine the entitlement and use of staff cars. The monetization policy was for civil servants of ministries/divisions/attached departments and subordinate offices in BS-20 to BS-22.

Moreover, the vehicles were monetised to non-entitled officers of BS-18 and BS-19 of which eight were hired on contract. Non-entitled officers were also being paid monetization allowance in violation of the government rules.

WHAT LAW SAYS:

Section 6(1)(d) of the BISP Act, 2010, states that the board’s powers and functions shall be to make regulations and approve policies and manuals in order to carry out the purposes of this Act.

The federal government approved the “Compulsory Monetization of Transport Facility for Civil Servants in BS-20 to BS-22” vide Cabinet Division letter No 6/7/2011-CPC dated 12.12.2011. The Monetization Policy was implemented from January 1, 2012.

Rule 2(x) of Use of Staff Cars Rules, 1980 defines the ‘Entitled Officers’ as officers of Grade 22, 21 & 20 of the federal government borne on the sanctioned establishment of a division or an organisation under its administrative control.

The auditors were is of the view that monetization of vehicles and payment of monetisation allowance was irregular and unauthorised.

The BISP management said that the proposal to buy vehicles for directors was placed in its second board meeting, which was approved by the BISP board. The monetization policy was also approved by the board in its 16th meeting.

However, the audit did not endorse views expressed by the BISP management and observed that the entire process was in violation of the prescribed rules while the BISP board had no authority to allow monetisation of vehicles to non-entitled officers, adding that these officials were also not authorised to receive the monetisation allowance.