The Punjab government’s good governance claims stood exposed on Thursday as auditor general’s report found irregularities of Rs 35 billion in various departments of the province.
According to a private TV channel, massive embezzlement of Rs 4.5 billion surfaced in the Food Department alone. As per the annual report of the auditor general sent to the Punjab Assembly, around 12 departments where irregularities had been detected did not do recoveries nor did they act against any government officer, letting billions of rupees from the national exchequer go down the drain.
The report says that the Excise Department didn’t do recoveries of Rs 2.71 billion whereas irregularities worth Rs 1.81 billion were pointed out to the Finance Department but the department didn’t take any action. Irregularities of Rs 1.8 billion surfaced in the Transport Department, but the department kept quiet.
So far, audit passages worth Rs 0.258 billion of Punjab Revenue Authority have been prepared. The report has stressed upon all the departments to immediately contact principal accounting officer so that the recovery process may be expedited.