PAC uncovers Rs58b missing food records scandal

KARACHI:

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed serious concern over alleged financial irregularities in the Sindh Food Department after officials failed to produce audit records worth Rs58 billion, triggering orders for disciplinary action against six district food controllers and deepening scrutiny of wheat procurement and subsidy management in the province.

The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, reviewed audit paras related to the Sindh Food Department for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and questioned officials over the non-production of financial records involving Rs58 billion in district-level transactions.

During the meeting held in Karachi, the committee was briefed by senior officials of the Food Department, including district food controllers, the Director General Sindh Food Authority and other relevant officers. The PAC was informed that records pertaining to several districts had not been provided for audit scrutiny, raising concerns over transparency and financial oversight.

According to audit observations presented before the committee, district food controllers from Larkana, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Malir, Tharparkar and other regions failed to submit records amounting to billions of rupees. Officials claimed that in some cases, records were taken away by anti-corruption authorities or were otherwise unavailable, a justification the committee questioned.

The PAC chairman observed that the absence of audit documentation for such a large amount indicated possible irregularities and negligence, directing authorities to take strict action against the responsible officers. He stressed that failure to maintain or produce financial records undermines public accountability and may point towards misuse of public funds. The committee also reviewed the Food Department's performance in wheat procurement, noting that the province had fallen significantly short of its targets.