Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has been working on a proposed amendment in its Ordinance 2001 relating to functions and powers of the AGP. Sources said these amendments were necessary in view of the statutory and constitutional developments over the years including the 18th amendment. Further, the Supreme Court of Pakistan in its historic judgement had clearly outlined the functions, duties and powers of the AGP.
Sources maintained that the amendment would enable the AGP to carry out the audit of all the government departments which are denying access to their accounts. At present, there are around 22 institutions that are unwilling to get their accounts audited from the AGP. The list of these institutions has also been submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for its consideration, sources said.
Eleven organisations have refused audit of their accounts by the AGP namely Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL), Pak China Investment Company Limited (PCICL), Defence Housing Authority (DHA), National Bank of Pakistan, Agri Business Support Fund (ABSF), Punjab Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (PIE), Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP), Pakistan Ordinance Factories Welfare Trust Fund, Wah Noble Private Limited, Trust for Voluntary Organisation (TVO) and People's Primary Health Initiatives (PPH Provincial Support Unit) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
There are 11 other organisations not included in the list released by the Supreme Court of Pakistan that are refusing audit namely Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), KP-Employees Social Securities Institution, Lahore Parking Company Limited, Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company Limited, Pak Oman Investment Company Limited, Pak Kuwait Investment Company Limited, Pak Iran Investment Company Limited, Pak Libya Holding Company Limited, Pak Brunei Investment Company Limited, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) and Gun & Country Club Islamabad.
Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (PAMC) have shown willingness to get their accounts audited. The AGP has started audit of the accounts of National Police Foundation, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC), Punjab Power Development Company (PPDC), Punjab Coal Mine Company (PCMC) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). A former AGP told Business Recorder that under the 18th Constitutional Amendment it has now become the responsibility of the AGP to audit the accounts of all institutions. It is also clearly worded in Article 170 (2) of the Constitution that all such bodies which were established by the federal government shall be subjected to audit.
On September 8, 2015, the apex court ordered the AGP to audit the accounts of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Lahore. According to the Constitution, all federal and provincial governments and departments are required to have their accounts audited by the auditor-general, the court ordered. The claim of immunity from audit by 19 state institutions is against the Constitution, stated the Supreme Court in its verdict.
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