Audit reveals Rs533m in financial irregularities in KP under KITE

PESHAWAR: The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has identified financial irregularities worth Rs533 million in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITE) being implemented with the financial assistance of the World Bank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tourism sector.

The AGP has recommended an investigation into the irregularities and action against those responsible.

According to the audit report issued by the AGP for the financial year 2023-24, irregularities were found in the purchase of vehicles worth Rs31.553 million for rescue stations and development authorities in Kalash Chitral, Gabina Jabba Swat, and Kamarat Dir by the management of KITE.

The report states that the areas are rugged and have limited infrastructure, making it challenging to use traditional vehicles.

The report also expresses concerns over the unnecessary expenditure of Rs136.347 million on the purchase of heavy vehicles and Rs57.495 million on the procurement process of fire-fighting vehicles. Irregularities of Rs17.852 million in the purchase of snow-clearing equipment, Rs87.928 million due to high-rate contracts, and Rs60 million due to the late supply of snow-clearing vehicles have also been identified.

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Similarly, irregularities of Rs7.855 million were found in the construction of temporary toilets at tourist destinations, deviating from the approved design.

Project Director KITE Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tauseef Khalid, stated that he had not received the report at the government level yet, so he could not comment on it. However, he clarified that all procurements in the project were made according to the World Bank’s guidelines and were approved by various forums.