Higher Education Commission (HEC) has rebutted reports regarding misappropriation in its accounts. In a statement issued here on Monday, the HEC clarified that the raised observations are not related to financial embezzlements but are about the procedural gaps.
The HEC further said that the observations raised by the federal audit are not directly related to accounts of Higher Education Commission (HEC) itself, but pertains to the accounts of individual universities which being autonomous bodies have their own financial and internal audit procedures in addition to provincial/federal audit, annually conducted by the Provincial/Federal Auditor Generals. It also clarified that the raised observations are not related to financial embezzlements but are about the procedural gaps.
The HEC pointed out that the universities have reported that this situation also arose due to financial constraints, non-release and delays of funds which have disturbed/affected the internal mechanism. The HEC further said that as per its past track record, HEC believes in transparency and fairness and zero tolerance policy had been adopted in this regard.
As far as, the matters related to of laptops, non-return of Foreign PhD scholars and award of civil work are concerned, the relevant universities have informed that actions have been taken as per directive of the Audit and compliance reports have been submitted accordingly.