Badin 'vendor mafia' accused in school budget fraud

BADIN:

A large-scale fraud has emerged in Badin involving the School Specific Budget by collusion between a "vendor mafia", the Treasury Office and the Education Department to pass fake bills worth millions of rupees.

According to sources, active agents have prepared fake letterheads, stamps and vouchers for bogus vendor companies and are getting bills worth millions approved.

Local residents and sources claimed that most schools had made no actual purchases so far. The School Specific Budget was introduced by Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah. Education circles alleged it is becoming a "gold mine" for the mafia.

The Sindh Education Department had earlier issued a letter directing that funds allocated under the School Specific Budget be fully utilized and that all bills be submitted to the relevant district accounts offices before June 10, 2026.

For the current financial year, the Sindh government allocated a total of Rs18.67 billion to 34,106 public schools under the School Specific Budget. The funds are meant for school repairs, furniture, stationery, electricity, water, sanitation and other necessities.

Finance and education experts said transparent use of public funds requires planning, market surveys, quotations, procurement rules, and proper documentation, which takes time. They warn that pressure to spend all funds in a short period is raising concerns about irregularities, substandard purchases, overbilling and other financial violations.

Education stakeholders have demanded that the Sindh Education Department make public the total funds released under the School Specific Budget, the dates of release, district-wise distribution, and expenditures so far to ensure transparency and answer questions about the use of public money.

Experts also said that instead of rushing to spend funds at the end of the fiscal year, a year-round, phased monitoring and expenditure system would be more effective and transparent, and would benefit public schools in real terms.