QUETTA : The Balochistan Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Asghar Ali Tareen, has uncovered serious financial irregularities in two key provincial departments during its latest review of audit reports.
The audit revealed that the Social Welfare Department spent Rs. 14.489 million on vehicle purchases during 2020-21 without proper authorization, failing to obtain mandatory certificates. Additionally, the department made purchases worth Rs. 10.082 million between 2019-2021 without open tendering, violating procurement rules.
Committee members expressed concern that these violations continued for three years, rejecting the department’s COVID-19 justification as insufficient. The PAC has directed the department to identify responsible officials and initiate disciplinary action.
The Board of Investment and Trade was found to have retained Rs. 295.037 million in bank accounts between 2018-2021 without authorization, failing to deposit earned interest into government accounts. The committee also noted Rs. 3.426 million in unnecessary bank deductions and Rs. 2.122 million in tax irregularities.
PAC Chairman Asghar Ali Tareen emphasized that while the Social Welfare Department suffers from inadequate funding, financial discipline must be maintained. He assured budget increase recommendations while stressing transparent fund utilization.
The committee has directed both departments to ensure future compliance with PPRA rules and financial regulations, with strict deadlines for recovering outstanding amounts and submitting action-taken reports.
In another probe, shocking financial irregularities have been revealed in Balochistan’s Sports Department, exposing the misuse of over 680 million rupees within just three months.
Official figures show that under DDO Code AO5270, a staggering amount of Rs. 681,678,000 was released, yet no major project, event, or facility is visible on the ground.
It is important to note that these irregularities are limited to the Sports Department alone — the Youth Affairs Department is separate.
According to verified documents, Rs. 292.9 million were released in July, Rs. 378.3 million in August, and Rs. 4.3 million in September, supposedly for “cricket, football, and a sports festival.”
However, no significant international tournament was held, no sports grounds were improved, and athletes received no new facilities.
Sources allege that a large portion of these funds was siphoned off by certain officials, and according to the Sports Board, the money ended up in the pockets of the adviser for sports and other insiders.
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