Your staff reporters in Islamabad have done well to publicize extracts from audit reports covering government departments and public sector organizations, thereby showing how maladministration is draining away precious financial resources. Misappropriations of over Rs 1bn from Baitul Maal during 2008-10, theft of goods worth over Rs 100m from over hundred outlets of Utility Stores Corporation during the same period; and failure to recover over Rs 500m from officers and contractors of Directorate of Food, Punjab Government; were reported in Pakistan Today.
Misappropriation, or just wastage, takes place because of lapses in certain areas. The main areas of concern are the lack of supervision, slackness of officers and other staff, violation of procedures and lack of internal controls.
Action under administrative law should have been taken against officers under whose watch these leakages occurred. However, this does not appear to have been done. Unless responsibility is fixed and punishment meted out, the officer cadre of the government will persist with their nonchalant attitude and squander of public money will continue.
JAVED ASGHAR
Lahore