SWAT: Authorities have begun recovering approximately Rs150 million from 820 police personnel in Swat district over payments received under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), with monthly salary deductions already underway.

According to official figures, deductions of up to Rs17,000 were made from the salaries of affected personnel in February. The recovery process is expected to continue until May 2027 to clear the outstanding amount of Rs149.764 million.

The personnel were initially recruited in 2009 under a community policing initiative as part of the Special Police Force (SPF) on a contract basis. At the time, they received a monthly salary of Rs10,000, which was later increased to Rs15,000 in 2014. In 2020, the force was merged into the regular police structure and granted Basic Pay Scale-5, later upgraded to Scale-7.

Officials said the recovery relates to financial assistance received under BISP by the spouses of these personnel during a period when their income levels were low. After security conditions improved in Swat, many of the personnel continued in service under the regular police setup.

Sources in the Finance Department confirmed that recoveries are being made from individuals whose families benefited from the programme at any stage.

Affected personnel said their current monthly salary is around Rs50,000 and that deductions of Rs17,000 per month have placed significant financial pressure on their households. They stated that when their spouses registered for BISP support, their earnings were limited and their economic conditions were difficult.

The personnel have appealed to the government to review the scale of deductions, particularly during Ramadan, citing financial hardship among lower-paid employees.