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Saturday, October 5, 2024

Was PM flood fund account hacked?

The reports raised alarm because people have donated millions to the flood relief fund. Moreover, the incumbent government was also criticized.

Earlier, news reports emerged that bank accounts dedicated to Pakistan’s flood relief and set up by the Prime Minister were allegedly hacked and a considerable amount of money was withdrawn.

Pertinent to mention that the task of disbursing Flood Relief Cash Assistance among the flood-hit people was assigned to the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

As a result, the reports raised alarm because people have donated millions to the flood relief fund. Moreover, criticism was also amassed against the incumbent government and it was accused of being the alleged hacker.

Read more: NAB files a reference against Farzana Raja, Chairperson BISP

“BISP money is being hacked and withdrawn while normal life has not been restored in the flood-affected areas. Nawab Shah, Khairpur Road is presenting a river scene. Hundreds of villages of Mihar, Dadu, Juhi, Khairpur Nathan Shah are still under water. The whole nation knows these hackers,” Former Deputy Speaker of National Assembly, Qasim Suri tweeted.

BISP gives clarification

Reacting to the criticism, BISP claimed the news is fake.

“There are no such reports of hacking of the accounts linked with the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Cash Assistance via BISP. Both bank accounts are working fine and disbursements are ongoing at the BISP campsites,” BISP clarified.

BISP also revealed that there were complaints of re-deductions from the flood relief cash assistance. However, BISP took strict action against the culprits involved and lodged First Information Reports (FIR) against them.

“Strict action was taken against those involved, FIRs were registered and culprits arrested. Benazir Income Support Programme has a zero-tolerance policy for such practices,” BISP said.

Read more: Digital is the way forward for BISP, Ehsaas & all cash transfers!

 

Under the leadership of Federal Minister of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Chairperson BISP, Shazia Marri, BISP rolled out its operations in the flood-affected areas and presently the flood relief activities are operational in 69 districts by establishing more than 400 payment sites. BISP is disbursing cash relief of Rs. 25,000 per family to the flood-affected families across the country.

BISP has so far disbursed over Rs. 25 billion to 1,017,214 flood affected families by providing 25000 PKR per family.