For the past few days, rumors are doing rounds on social media regarding the hacking of certain bank accounts, dedicated to collecting Pakistan’s flood relief fund, which was set up by PM Shehbaz Sharif. It should also be noted that the task of funds disbursements to the flood affectees was assigned to Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
Is the Money Being Stolen from the Flood Relief Fund?
Recently, it came to light that the money from BISP is allegedly being stolen and withdrawn. The claims were put forth by the former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Qasim Suri. He said; “BISP money is being hacked and withdrawn while normal life has not been restored in the flood-affected areas.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 underwater.” He later hinted that the rival party is impersonating a hacker and looting the money donated to the flood relief fund. “The whole nation knows these hackers,” he wrote.
بی آئی ایس پی کی رقم ہیک کر کے نکلوائی جا رہی ہے جبکہ سیلاب سے متاثرہ علاقوں میں معمولات زندگی اب تک بحال نہ ہوسکے۔ نواب شاہ، خیرپور روڈ دریا کا منظر پیش کررہا ہے میہڑ، دادو، جوہی، خیرپور ناتھن شاہ کے سینکڑوں دیہات اب بھی زیر آب ہیں۔
ان ہیکرز کو پوری قوم جانتی ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/OiFrtHtKYn— Qasim Khan Suri (@QasimKhanSuri) September 19, 2022
BISP Response to the Allegations
BISP refuted the rumors by saying that there are no reports of hacking. Mentioning Qasim Suri in a tweet, BISP wrote; “There are no such reports of hacking of the accounts linked with the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Cash Assistance via @bisp_pakistan. Both @HBLPak and @BankAlfalahPAK accounts are working fine and disbursements are ongoing at the BISP campsites.”
? FAKE NEWS ALERT
There are no such reports of hacking of the accounts linked with the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Cash Assistance via @bisp_pakistan. Both @HBLPak and @BankAlfalahPAK accounts are working fine and disbursements are ongoing at the BISP campsites. https://t.co/bSqoHuUN09
— Benazir Income Support Programme (@bisp_pakistan) September 19, 2022
The organizations further acknowledged the complaints regarding re-deductions from the flood relief cash assistance and said that strict action has been taken against the culprits. BISP is providing cash relief of Rs. 25,000 to each family affected by the devasting floods. To date, more than Rs. 25 billion have been distributed to 1,017,214 flood-affected families.
Also read: Government Launches Digital Flood Dashboard to Ensure Transparency
