BISP gets some competition

A group is trying to cheat people out of their money by offering them financial assistance along same lines as BISP.

LAHORE: A group, pretending to be a foreign organisation, is trying to cheat people out of their money by offering them financial assistance along the same lines as the Benazir Income Support Programme.

The fake organisation that goes by the name of NISP even has a logo similar to that of the BISP, a letter by sent on behalf of the provincial Minister for Population Welfare to the Punjab Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director states.

According to the letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the group is operating in remote areas of the province, including parts of Toba Tek Singh. “The modus operandi of the group is to offer financial assistance... They are also using a logo similar to that of the BISP,” the letter reads.

As evidence, the office of the minister has also attached a letter that one Tahira Parveen of Toba Tek Singh, CNIC number 3303-6026067-4, received from the NISP.

The NISP letter says that the European and American communities have expanded their financial assistance programme for the deserving under which Rs1,000 to Rs6,000 would be given to those who apply every month. “You will receive a secret survey and registration form shortly.

Pay Rs400 to the postman when you receive the value paid letter (VPL). Send the form to the NISP office address after filling it so you might be able to receive financial assistance without interruption.”

The NISP also claims that under the programme, 1,500 constructed houses would be allocated to the poor through balloting.

Interest-free loans from Rs50, 000 to Rs100,000 have also been promised by the group. When contacted, the Punjab FIA director, Zafar Ahmad Qureshi, said the swindlers would be tracked down and strict action taken against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2010.