SC sets aside orders to restore BISP retailer’s blocked ID

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed a complaint filed against the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) by a Point-of-Sale (PoS) agent regarding the blocking of his retailer ID. A two-judge bench, led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, ruled that the complaint was not maintainable under consumer protection laws as the relationship did not constitute a "consumer service" arrangement.

The bench set aside the orders of the Peshawar High Court's Bannu bench from November 6, 2025, which had directed the BISP and Bank Alfalah to restore the agent's ID. The Supreme Court emphasized that the complainant, a PoS retailer, could not invoke consumer law rights, as he was not a "service acquirer" under the BISP Act, 2010, and no consumer relationship existed between the two parties.

The court also directed the BISP director general to conduct an inquiry into the matter and afford the complainant an opportunity to explain the reasons for the blockage of his ID. The authority was given 45 days to pass an appropriate order.