The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has unearthed Rs 6428.129 million worth of irregularities and misappropriation in the accounts of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its recent audit report.
The audit authorities, in its report on the accounts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for audit year 2018-19, raised 45 audit paras by detecting Rs 6428.129 million worth of irregularities, misappropriation and losses to the national exchequer due to unauthorized expenditures.
The auditors found a fraudulent transfer of entertainment and sumptuary allowances amounting US $33,598 into personal account of an ambassador abroad [name not given] without any supporting documents. The departmental accounts committee (DAC) has also directed the ministry to take disciplinary action against all responsible for loss of public money.
The audit authorities detected that the Embassy of Pakistan, Lisbon, paid €22,247 to M/s Arman in advance on account of purchase of MRP related equipment in 2015 without calling tender while the approved limit was €3,000.
It was found that an amount of € 11,046.37 was refunded back in December 2015 while the remaining amount of €2,712 was not returned by the contractor. The audit recommended to probe into the matter by fixing responsibility and recovery of the misappropriated amount.
The audit authorities observed that in certain Pakistani missions abroad recruitments and appointments of local based staff were not made according to prescribed procedure that resulted in loss of Rs 234.549 million to the national exchequer.
The audit authorities also found irregular payments in cash instead of crossed-cheques up to Rs 575.254 million in certain missions abroad and an unauthorized expenditure amounting Rs 1,460.390 million on account of purchase of vehicles at Pakistan's mission at Berlin.
An amount of Rs 956.720 million unauthorized expenditure was detected in various Pakistani missions abroad on account of contingent paid staff appointment without approval of the competent authority.