QUETTA: Another massive financial irregularity scam has been uncovered in Balochistan through by an audit report, raising serious concerns over accountability in public institutions.
According to the latest audit report released by the Auditor General of Pakistan, revealed massive financial irregularities totaling over Rs1.17 billion in the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation (QMC) for the fiscal year 2023–24.
Audit report revealed that QMC failed to meet its tax collection target, collecting only Rs36.4 million against the set target of Rs823.6 million, resulting in a loss of over Rs792.9 million to the public exchequer.
The audit report submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Balochistan Assembly, points to multiple instances of mismanagement, revenue loss, and misuse of authority across various departments and services under QMC’s control.
The key findings of the report are, Rs103.1 million was allegedly misused from revenue generated through bicycle/motorcycle stands, stalls, and fees for NADRA-related services including birth, marriage, and death certificates, irregularities amounting to Rs1.78 billion were identified in the lease renewals, illegal allocations, and mismanagement of shop rents, the failure to auction petrol pumps caused a financial loss of Rs65.6 million, losses of Rs34.3 million were recorded due to the non-rental of 51 out of 54 shops built on Joint Road, another Rs15 million was lost due to non-collection of rent from 50 shops and cabins on Prince Road, the Bakra Peeri (animal market) contract led to an additional loss of Rs14.5 million and a separate Rs18.4 million in irregularities was recorded in the arrangements made for a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match.
Furthermore, the report highlights that the lease for the Imdad Hotel was not renewed at market rate, causing additional unquantified financial damage.
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The massive financial mismanagement revealed in the report has raised serious concerns about governance and accountability in local institutions. The findings are now under review by the PAC, which is expected to call for explanations and possible disciplinary or legal action against those responsible.
