NAB launches NTS audit

Testing service resists audit, may be hiding financial discrepancies

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) launched an inquiry on Friday, into the National Testing Service (NTS) –an entity that conducts tests for induction into the government sector.

The anti-corruption watchdog recently received a number of complaints from candidates ranging from papers being compromised before the tests, procedural irregularities in the hiring process, and other corrupt practices in the NTS.



Upon receiving complaints, NAB chairperson Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal ordered an inquiry into NTS on account of alleged embezzlement and question papers being leaked before the testing dates for monetary gains, said a statement from the bureau.

The statement also read that an inquiry has been initiated on the chairperson’s directives and that NAB will not allow any institution to side line transparency and affect an individual’s future.

Furthermore the bureau has put together all the complaints that it has received against the NTS and then started the inquiry, the statement said.

Although, NTS has become a major testing authority over the last few years, there are more and more questions being raised in the parliament about its roles and legal position.

A recent report from the auditor general of Pakistan (AGP) revealed that NTS officials and related departments are not in the favour of a verification process. It may be speculated that the unwillingness stems from financial irregularities which may be uncovered.



The first ever NTS audit was conducted by the AGP in October 2016, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and it was conducted on the directives of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) Board of Directors, which look after the service.

The auditor found that NTS is functioning in lieu of proper rules, policies, corporate strategies or even organised objectives, which lead to financial discrepancies that come to millions of rupees. The audit also brought to light the internal NTS mechanisms. However, it should be noted that the NTS management has always resisted having an audit conducted.