ISLAMABAD: Auditor General of Pakistan’s audit report has uncovered 40 billion rupees irregularities and doubtful payments in the Prime Minister’s coronavirus relief package.
The Auditor General’s report has reported mis-purchases, payments to irrelevant/ineligible beneficiaries, huge cash withdrawals through fake biometric process, and purchase of substandard goods by utility stores.
Notably, a total of 354 billion rupees were for the coronavirus relief package, but the auditors could not get record of complete transactions which makes doubtful billions of rupees expenditures, according to a report of Samaa TV.
Auditor General of Pakistan’s report showed irregularities of Rs25 billion in the Benazir Income Support Programme expenditures. With this programme, the gvernment spent Rs133 billion in fiscal year 2019-20. This huge amount was disbursed amongst 13.1 million beneficiaries.
About Rs16 million of Covid-19 cash transfers were given to those beneficiaries who were rich and income tax filers as well. AGP also reported withdrawal of Covid-19 cash grants from BISP and Zakat amounting to Rs318 million.
Money was even withdrawn from outside the province by 2,048 agents who operated in Quetta, Lasbela, Thatta, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, and Khanewal. Meanwhile, Rs1.7 million were withdrawn by fake biometrics.
Moreover, over 13 million beneficiaries, enrolled for BISP payments, have not yet been paid.
The audit found irregularities in spending by the National Disaster Management Authority as well. “NDMA procured units of one and the same ventilator at higher cost from Sinopharm Fortune Way Company. The difference in price per ventilator was $7,100. Procurement of same equipment at the same time at a higher rate resulted in a loss of $994,000 to the public exchequer,” the report revealed.
Misprocurement was also found in the installation of Resource Management Systems, beds at isolation centres, and quarantine facilities. The auditors added that despite multiple requests NDMA didn’t produce the required documents and records needed for the audit.
