Financial impropriety: Rs38.4m exam fee unaccounted for
Misappropriation in Punjab Public Service Commission accounts detected.
LAHORE:
The Public Accounts Committee of the Punjab Assembly will thoroughly discuss the issue of massive misappropriations in the accounts of the Punjab Public Service Commission next week.
Data also showed that officers of the commission and their family members used up fuel worth Rs1.5 million above their quotas.
According to available documents, the commission officials intentionally delayed in keeping a record of examination fees paid by prospective candidates. According to the audit paragraph 13.2, the commission has no record of fees amounting to as much as Rs38.4 million, and there was also no treasury office verification of the deposited dues.
The matter, the audit report said, was pointed out several times, but the commission avoided calling a meeting of internal accounts committee, adding that it had not even given a satisfactory response till the finalisation of the audit report.
The secretary of the Punjab Public Service Commission, in his response to the auditors’ queries, contended that his department’s financial data had been reconciled by the Accountant General of Punjab. However, there was no documentary evidence to support the assertion.
Auditors also objected to the usage of extra fuel by vehicles in use of officials of the commission and their relatives. It said that fuel worth Rs1.489 million was used, adding that vehicles of the commission were used by officials without proper authorisation and at times the log books were without signatures of the competent authority.
According to the commission, all log books were full. However, the audit department rejected this answer and said that no additional material was provided for verification.
Auditors also objected to “payments of Rs955,000 in violation of rules and regulations”. The commission contended that this was because of some emergency payments. The auditors have decided to present its findings before the Public Accounts Committee in its next meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2011.
The Public Accounts Committee of the Punjab Assembly will thoroughly discuss the issue of massive misappropriations in the accounts of the Punjab Public Service Commission next week.
Data also showed that officers of the commission and their family members used up fuel worth Rs1.5 million above their quotas.
According to available documents, the commission officials intentionally delayed in keeping a record of examination fees paid by prospective candidates. According to the audit paragraph 13.2, the commission has no record of fees amounting to as much as Rs38.4 million, and there was also no treasury office verification of the deposited dues.
The matter, the audit report said, was pointed out several times, but the commission avoided calling a meeting of internal accounts committee, adding that it had not even given a satisfactory response till the finalisation of the audit report.
The secretary of the Punjab Public Service Commission, in his response to the auditors’ queries, contended that his department’s financial data had been reconciled by the Accountant General of Punjab. However, there was no documentary evidence to support the assertion.
Auditors also objected to the usage of extra fuel by vehicles in use of officials of the commission and their relatives. It said that fuel worth Rs1.489 million was used, adding that vehicles of the commission were used by officials without proper authorisation and at times the log books were without signatures of the competent authority.
According to the commission, all log books were full. However, the audit department rejected this answer and said that no additional material was provided for verification.
Auditors also objected to “payments of Rs955,000 in violation of rules and regulations”. The commission contended that this was because of some emergency payments. The auditors have decided to present its findings before the Public Accounts Committee in its next meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2011.