AGP detects loss of Rs 260 million in KP Forest department

The Auditor General of Pakistan AGP) has detected a loss of Rs 260.041 million in the Forest Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during financial year 2015-16, said Audit Report 2016-17 on accounts of KP Department.

The report has been presented in the provincial assembly that had referred it to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the house that is headed by the Speaker and comprising the representatives of all parliamentary parties. The highest loss of the Rs.235.530 million had been occurred due to illicit cutting of forest trees in violation of the General Finance Rules (GFR) in the office of the Divisional Forest Office, Dir Upper wherein it was noticed that in Darora Range Office at Kadi Khel 1,401 number of trees measuring 86,781 cft amounting to Rs.21,695,000/- and 79 number of trees measuring 7,340 cft amounting to Rs.1,835,000/- in the area of the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) Warrai were illicitly cut.

The damage reports were registered against the offenders, however, no timely action was taken by the department to control the illicit cutting of timber, which resulted into loss of Rs.23,530,000/- (Rs.21,695+ Rs.1,835,000).

The lapse occurred due to weak internal control, resulting into loss of Rs.23,530,000/- and when pointed out, it was replied that reply would be given later on. Despite, the repeated requests of the audit through DO letters for convening Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) meeting, the meeting was not convened. Therefore, the audit has recommended inquiry to fix responsibility against the persons at fault.

The second case of the loss of Rs.6.844 million was also occurred during the financial year 2015-16 in the same district Dir Upper wherein two damage reports were registered against the contractors of wood bridge at Akhgram and Sadiqabad for illegal utilization of forest timber. The damage report revealed that contractors had used forest timber for construction of bridges. However, the matter was reported very late, i.e, after construction of bridges. Thus, the government sustained a loss of Rs 6,844,465/- due to negligence of the department.

But, despite repeated requests of the audit for holding DAC meeting, it was not convened till the finalization of the annual audit report that prompted the audit to recommend conducting of inquiry to fix responsibility against the persons at fault and recover the amount.