Massive discrepancies found in Benazir youth programme

The discrepancies in the programme have compelled a few employees to knock at the doors of SHC for justice

KARACHI: The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme (BBSYDP), established to realise the dream of the slain PPP leader for the province’s youth, faces massive discrepancies as the Anti-Corruption Establishment has initiated an inquiry against it.

BBSYDP programme was initiated in 2008 through an act to train youth between the ages of 18 and 35 years in 389 trades of 89 employable sectors. The initiative was aimed to provide jobs and to curtail poverty, but the officials concerned of this programme are more interested in awarding contracts to blacklisted firms.



“A firm contract has been extended with a higher price, ignoring all SPPRA rules,” official sources said. They added that anti-corruption department has received a few complaints about the misuse of funds, nepotism and corruption in the board.

“This programme has been named after the former prime minister, but contracts are awarded to those firms which have failed to perform their obligations,” sources said. They also added that the programme has now been transformed to the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research and Development Board (BBSHRRDB), but the rules of the transfer are yet to be finalised.

One of the contract employees, requesting anonymity, said that due to a lack of rules and regulations, almost all contract employees are being deprived of benefits, apart from a few blue-eyed persons of the management.  “Resources are available, but top officials of the programme have been bungling with them,” an employee said. He added that despite the court orders, junior officials are still being posted on senior positions.



The deputised employees claim that they have been absorbed in the board and take double allowances, claimed the official. This was a serious violation of the Supreme Court and subsequent Sindh government orders. Under the programme a stipend for youth is supposed to be given through easy paisa, but it has not reached any of the trainees of this programme. A trainee of the programme, who lives in Hyderabad, claimed that the stipend amount is being taken by irrelevant persons. He added that a number of complaints have been lodged but all have been in vain

The discrepancies in the programme have compelled a few employees to knock at the doors of Sindh High Court for justice. They have also asked the anti-corruption establishment to start an inquiry in this matter as well. An employee requesting anonymity said “we request the concerned authorities and court to expedite the matter and take action against the management of the BBSYDP.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2016.