'Rs66m corruption' case on Punjab PAC radar

Following the failure of the Rawalpindi District Health Authority (DHA) to recover over Rs66.6 million embezzled money, the issue has been made part of the agenda of the Punjab Public Accounts Committee's four-day meeting scheduled to begin on February 24.

According to sources, an inquiry committee had recommended the recovery of these funds from the district health officer (DHO) medical services, DHO public services, senior district officer health, deputy director budget & accounts, and four clerks.

However, no progress was made on these recommendations, they said. Sources said the local purchases made under the DHA in 2021-22 included medicines, gloves, sanitisers, buckets, emergency trays, trolleys, surgical instruments, dustbins, liquid soap, phenyl, and other items.

These purchases were made without demand from tehsil headquarters hospitals, basic health units, and rural health centres, often at rates higher than market prices.

Out of the Rs3 billion spent on these purchases, over Rs66.6 million were overpaid to vendors, sources said.

The inquiry committee confirmed the allegations and recommended recovery, which was also supported by audit objections raised by the regional director of audit.

The newly appointed CEO of the health authority, Dr Ansar Ishaq, forwarded the inquiry committee's recommendations to the secretary of health.

However, the competent authority did not approve the recovery, effectively burying the matter. Consequently, the audit objections were forwarded to the Punjab Public Accounts Committee for review.

The Punjab Public Accounts Committee, chaired by MPA Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhry, will examine audit objections related to Rawalpindi and other district health authorities during its meeting from February 24 to 27 at the Punjab Assembly's new building.

Sources alleged that multiple attempts were made to interfere with the inquiry process. Instead of implementing the findings of an inquiry conducted in February 2023, another committee was formed in April 2023, followed by a third in May 2023.

The third inquiry report dismissed corruption allegations, claiming that local purchases were made under COVID-19 emergency protocols. When this report was used to suppress the case, the regional director of audit raised the objections with the Auditor General of Punjab, who subsequently forwarded them to the Punjab Public Accounts Committee for further action.