ISLAMABAD: The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has noted procurement-related irregularities of Rs285.99 million and employee-related irregularities of Rs12.74 million in the accounts of the Finance Division.

The audit report on the Finance Division for the audit year 2021-22 also noted that a recovery of Rs78.073 million and stated that audit observation of Rs78.417 million were raised in the report during the current audit of the Finance Division. The report also pointed out an irregular award of security contract to the higher bidder by the Regional Directorate of National Saving Karachi caused a loss of Rs45.532 million.

The management of the Regional Directorate of National Savings (RDNS), Karachi got published a tender notice in a newspaper on 20.05.2017 for acquiring security services at RDNS, Karachi and field offices at Karachi, Hyderabad, and Quetta.

In response to the tender three firms participated and quoted their rates and contract was awarded to M/s Askari Guards Rs6,307,300 per month for a year which was extended for another two years up to October 2020.

The audit observed that the contract was awarded to the bidder with higher rates in a loss of Rs45,532,500. The audit is of the view that due to the award of security contracts to the bidder than the lowest resulted in a loss of Rs45.532 million. The management did not reply or convened a DAC till finalisation of the report. The audit recommended that responsibility may be fixed for the irregularity.

The AGP has pointed out unauthorised expenditure of Rs12.744 million on transport and fuel monetisation by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) adopting a different transport monetisation policy from October 2014 as compared to the policy announced by the Cabinet Division. The audit report noted that the Cabinet Division on 25.02.2020 stated that the case for review of monetisation policy of the CCP will be placed before the Steering Committee on Monetization during the next meeting.

The report also pointed out unauthorised maintenance of Monopoly Control Authority’s fund Rs289.991 million by the CCP. The audit observed that there was no provision in the Act to maintain fund for former Monopoly Control Authority's employees. Further, the federal government had not issued any direction for maintaining the pension fund. The audit is of the view that pension fund maintained is in violation of the Act and recommended that the practice be discontinued. The audit also pointed out unauthorised payment of pension to retired employees from the CCP fund besides other irregularities.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022