Audit finds Rs22.5m irregularities in KP health dept’s condom purchase

PESHAWAR: The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has ordered a fact-finding inquiry into alleged irregularities involving the procurement and distribution of 1.2 million condoms by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department before they were even manufactured.

According to the AGP’s audit report for 2024-25, available with HUM News English, an audit of the directorate general of health KP’s accounts for the fiscal year 2023-24 revealed that the department purchased 1.2 million condoms from funds meant for essential medicines.

According to the audit report, payment was made to a private firm on February 7, 2024. The condoms were purchased at Rs18.75 apiece, costing the provincial exchequer Rs22.50 million in total, the audit report revealed.

The report further stated that the purchased condoms were supplied to District Health Offices (DHOs) in six districts, including North Waziristan (700,000 condoms), Bajaur (60,000), Lower Dir (100,000), Malakand (150,000) and Kurram (50,000).

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The audit found that the supply order was issued on January 29, 2024, while the supplier’s documents listed the manufacturing date as April 2024.

Additionally, DHO offices acknowledged receipt of the condoms on February 2, 2024, whereas import documents cited November 2023 — suggesting that the condoms were imported and distributed before being manufactured.

The report also noted that the KP directorate of health issued the supply order without obtaining demand estimates from any district hospital or DHO office, nor did it develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the procurement and distribution process.

During the audit, the health directorate failed to clarify on whose instructions the condoms were purchased from the essential medicines budget.

Furthermore, official records did not identify any individuals or officials at the DHO offices who received the condoms, and neither the DG health services in Peshawar nor the DHOs verified the distribution.

The directorate was also unable to explain why only six districts were selected or why North Waziristan alone received 58 per cent (700,000) of the total condoms.

According to the AGP, the premature receipt and distribution of condoms without documented demand showed embezzlement of Rs22.50 million.

The audit flagged the discrepancy in November 2024, but it got no response from the department.

It said that a letter was sent on January 6, 2025, requesting a Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) meeting, but it did not take place by the time the audit report was finalised.

The AGP has recommended that the provincial government conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the case and take action against those responsible, and recover the embezzled amount.

KP Director General Health Dr Saleem told HUM News English that a two-member committee — comprising the senior member board of revenue (SMBR) and the special secretary of the home department — has completed the inquiry.

He said that the report has been sent to the chief minister for action against the officials involved in the scam.