Irregularities worth Rs 5.8 trillion found in 44 ministries by AGP in FY 2017-18

Irregularities worth Rs 5.8 trillion found in 44 ministries by AGP in FY 2017-18

ISLAMABAD - The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has found mismanagement, irregularities and week financial controls amounting to Rs. 5.8 trillion in the accounts of 44 federal ministries during the audit year 2017-18.

The objections raised by the auditors in the financial accounts of the ministries are 87 percent higher when compared to the audit objections raised during the previous year, which was Rs. 3.12 trillion in accounts of 36 ministries.

The AGP report said the findings were based on scrutiny of public funds of 44 out of 60 federal ministries and divisions. The audit did not cover amounts below Rs. 1 million spent or received by these ministries.

The AGP recovered an amount of Rs. 69.4 billion and deposited the same in the federal consolidated fund.

It found out 39 cases of weak internal control amounting to Rs. 5.775 trillion involving multiple ministries and divisions. The auditors uncovered 82 cases of irregular expenditures or payments amounting to Rs. 24.75bn in violation of rules.

The AGP highlighted 26 cases of weak financial management in another 22 cases related to unsound asset management amounting to Rs. 1.3bn. There were 65 cases of recovery amounting to Rs. 9.12bn, while three cases were reported where record relating to Rs. 3.18bn was not produced on auditor’s demand.