A recently published audit report by the Auditor-General of Pakistan has exposed a staggering embezzlement of 32 billion rupees in Balochistan during the fiscal year 2021-2022.
The comprehensive audit report delves into the financial management practices of the Government of Balochistan, revealing significant mishandling of funds. According to the report, the government failed to utilize 11.67% of its annual financial budget, amounting to a staggering 53.44 billion rupees. Shockingly, only 29% of the allocated funds for developmental projects in Balochistan were spent.
The audit report discloses that out of the total Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) budget of 239 billion rupees, a mere 68.7 billion rupees were actually expended. Additionally, an alarming amount of 3.39 billion rupees was embezzled within the Board of Revenue Balochistan.
The report highlights further financial irregularities, including the illegal expenditure of 2.09 billion rupees, with the government only providing records for a meager 30 million rupees. In the Industries and Commerce Department of Balochistan, a whopping 2.17 billion rupees were embezzled.
Notably, the audit report sheds light on the misappropriation of funds in Balochistan’s development and infrastructure projects, revealing an embezzlement of 1.78 billion rupees. Similarly, the communications and development departments suffered a loss of 1.87 billion rupees.
The healthcare sector experienced a massive theft of 3.89 billion rupees, while the Mines and Minerals Development Department saw an embezzlement of over 4 billion rupees. In the public health engineering domain, 2.45 billion rupees were pilfered. Shockingly, the Balochistan Police department witnessed an embezzlement of 1.38 billion rupees, and the agriculture department suffered a loss of 263 million rupees. Additionally, a recovery of 209 million rupees is pending. The higher education department was not spared either, as 960 million rupees were embezzled within its ranks.
The audit report further uncovers financial misconduct in the revenue department, where 480 million rupees were misappropriated. The food department experienced a loss of 213 million rupees, while the livestock department witnessed the disappearance of 194 million rupees.
In the irrigation department, a staggering amount of 312.6 million rupees was pilfered, and a similar trend was observed in the Department of Accounts and General Administration, where 71 million rupees went missing. Shockingly, all revenue, excise, taxation, and transport authority schemes remained unfulfilled.
Moreover, the audit report reveals that out of the 28 departments covered by the PSDP, 24 departments were allocated budgets below 1% of the total. Furthermore, the government departments failed to provide records and justifications for 620 million rupees in expenditures, while an additional 25 million rupees were directly embezzled and stolen.
The damning findings of this audit report underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of financial management practices and a robust system to ensure transparency and accountability in the Government of Balochistan.