AGP digs Rs119b scams in 11 govt departments

LAHORE: A special audit report by the Auditor General of Pakistan (APG) has unearthed embezzlements of a whopping Rs119 billion involving at least 11 government departments.

The volume of corruption could be gauged from the fact that the Zakat and Usher department provided benefits to those who were able to pay zakat themselves. Other departments included Aukaf and Religious Affair, Youth Affairs, Environment Protection, Higher Education, Food, Agriculture, Health and Sports.

The audit report obtained by The Express Tribune revealed embezzlement of over Rs8.91 billion in the agriculture department. The corruption was done in the agriculture department in the purchase of low-quality seeds, agricultural equipment and purchase of vehicles, selection of improper land for Kharif crop and in gunny bags.

Similarly, in the Food Department, irregularities of more than Rs2.40 billion were discovered. The warehouses rented by the food authorities did not even have roofs and were in a shambles. Equipment and machinery were purchased at higher prices as compared to the market rates. Instead of giving stamps, recovery and checks from various departments, cash was paid against the law.

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Fund misappropriation of more than Rs28.55 billion was exposed in the health department in the purchase of medical equipment and machinery in violation of the law. Substandard medicines, chemicals and medicines used in various medical tests were purchased without a drug testing laboratory’s report. A massive misappropriation of Rs27.89 billion was detected in the education department. Corruption exposed in the Higher Education Department included allowances given under the PhD’s bogus programme and scholarships were given to the students without following and grants were given to those universities where there were no PhD programs.

Similarly, in the information and culture department, more than Rs12.65 billion and in the livestock Rs3.54 billion fund misappropriation was detected.

The audit also revealed embezzlement of Rs1.14 billion in the Population Welfare Department. Illegal advance payments were made for the purchasing paper, photocopy machines and for renting buildings. Embezzlement of Rs70.54 million was exposed in the parliamentary affair, primary education, mines and mineral and P&D. the payments were made without any documentary evidence.

In the Department of Transport, irregularities of over Rs37.83 billion came to the light. Illegal payments were made on the account of diesel, vehicle purchases and the allowances of employees.

Over Rs4.98 billion rupees embezzlement has done in Zakat and Ushr. Zakat was given to those who did not deserve it. More than Rs410 million of irregularities were exposed in the sports department which involved the refurbishment of the grounds, up-gradation and the purchase of kits.

Among Rs119 billion embezzlement, most of the corruption involved bogus documents or buying items that were not needed and the purchase of defective goods.

The AGP sources said none of the aforementioned departments has submitted their answers to the queries and documents related to payments made.

Recently, the Lahore Ring Road megaproject appeared on the radar of the anti-graft watchdog after its audit unearthed irregularities worth billions of rupees.

Taking notice of a report published in The Express Tribune, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has ordered an inquiry to fix responsibility for financial embezzlement. The chairman directed the NAB Lahore director general to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit a report.

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The highest amount embezzled was Rs42.38 billion of which no official records were available. However, the Punjab Communication and Works Department obtained a special audit report of the overall irregularities worth Rs59.39 billion.

Last month, an audit unveiled embezzlement of billions of rupees in the purchase of security equipment, jammers, food and logistic affairs of prisons, allowances of police officers and several other matters that fall under the ambit of the home department.

The AGP submitted a report to the Punjab Assembly revealing irregularities of more than Rs17 billion in the police department.

The report showed that more than Rs20 million were spent on the repair of vehicles of the police department. However, no documented evidence or receipts of those expenses were found in the public accounts documents.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2020.