QUETTA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Balochistan Assembly has declared that the province was deprived of billions of rupees in federal funds due to the provincial government’s failure to effectively advocate for its constitutional entitlements.
During a meeting chaired by Asghar Ali Tareen, the committee reviewed audit reports for the 2021-22 fiscal year. It was determined that Balochistan did not receive its full financial share from the federal divisible pool. PAC members pointed to Article 119 of the Constitution and Clause 4(3) of the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, asserting that a more robust approach from provincial authorities could have secured these critical funds. The committee unanimously demanded the issue be escalated to the highest levels of the federal government for immediate resolution.
The meeting, attended by PAC members and senior officials including Finance Secretary Imran Zarkoon and Accountant General Nasrullah Jan, uncovered severe financial mismanagement. A staggering discrepancy of Rs. 6.99 billion was flagged between District Accounts Offices and the National Bank of Pakistan. Other major irregularities included a negative balance exceeding Rs. 5 billion in annual accounts, erroneous payments of Rs. 580 million, and irregular cheque disbursements totaling nearly Rs. 390 million. The PAC directed the immediate rectification of these issues and warned of strict disciplinary action, including potential removals, for responsible officers.
Further scrutiny fell on the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), which was found to have Rs. 334.6 million in outstanding government dues. The committee also identified irregularities in the management of Balochistan House in Islamabad and VIP flats, and noted the illegal retention of official vehicles by retired officers. Recovery of all dues and vehicles was ordered promptly.
In a separate matter, the PAC questioned why a provincial government aircraft, grounded since 2013, has yet to be auctioned, resulting in continued losses to the public treasury. Authorities were given a two-month ultimatum to either auction the aircraft or restore it to service.
Concluding the session, Chairman Asghar Ali Tareen emphasized the non-negotiable need for fiscal discipline and transparency. He instructed officials to ensure the efficient use of public resources and to hold negligent officers accountable.
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