Rs 120 billion financial irregularities of KP govt exposed

PESHAWAR: The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has unveiled historical financial irregularities amounting to Rs 120 billion in 28 departments of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, according to the audit report for the fiscal year 2023-24.

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This revelation underscores widespread mismanagement and embezzlement across various sectors within the provincial government.

The audit report highlights significant financial discrepancies in multiple key departments, including Irrigation, Communications and Works, Energy and Power, Finance, Mines and Minerals, and Sports.

Among these, the Department of Communication and Works was identified with the highest level of irregularities, totalling Rs 30,463.2 million. The Department of Energy and Power followed with Rs 7,010.792 million, while the Department of Finance accounted for Rs 8,460.163 million in irregularities.

The Department of Irrigation saw Rs 20,448.022 million in discrepancies, and the Department of Mines and Minerals recorded Rs 16,943.928 million. The Department of Sports reported financial misappropriations amounting to Rs 8,769.373 million.

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Additional departments also reported significant irregularities. The Establishment and Administration Department faced discrepancies amounting to Rs 697.994 million, the Agriculture Department Rs 2,426.329 million, and the Auqaf Department of Rs 1,392.250 million.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Department identified Rs 250.144 million in irregularities, and the Environment and Forestry Department recorded Rs 1,472.972 million. The Excise Department had Rs 18.835 million in misappropriations, the Food Department Rs 437.445 million, and the Health Department Rs 4,210.293 million.

The Higher Education Department reported Rs 1,680.174 million in discrepancies, the Housing Department Rs 220.185 million, and the Labour Department Rs 27.780 million. The Livestock Department had financial irregularities totalling Rs 2,976.358 million, the Law Department Rs 323.5 million, and the Local Government Department Rs 3,665.534 million.

The Planning and Development Department faced discrepancies of Rs 1,587.987 million, the Population Welfare Department Rs 55.987 million, and the Public Health Engineering Department Rs 2,765.949 million. The Social Welfare Department reported financial irregularities amounting to Rs 1,840.573 million, the Information Technology Department Rs 384.185 million, the Tourism and Culture Department Rs 533.203 million, and the Transport Department Rs 118.367 million.

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The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has yet to respond to the findings of the audit report, but the magnitude of the uncovered irregularities indicates an urgent need for comprehensive investigation and corrective actions.