Our correspondent 


ISLAMABAD: A scathing report by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has exposed massive financial irregularities and embezzlement totaling over PKR 16.69 billion across just four federal ministries, laying bare significant governance and oversight failures.

According to the audit report, a total of 35 audit paras have detailed widespread corruption and mismanagement within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.

Breakdown of Irregularities

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs topped the list of financial infractions, with the AGP raising 24 audit paras pointing to irregularities worth over PKR 9.61 billion.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was flagged in 8 audit paras for corruption and mismanagement exceeding PKR 5.21 billion. The remaining PKR 1.87 billion in financial discrepancies was recorded across 3 audit paras split between the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis.

Hajj 2024 Scam Exposed

The audit report leveled serious allegations against the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding the management of Hajj 2024. It revealed that a private company, identified as 'Tawafa', defrauded Pakistani pilgrims of 40 million Saudi Riyals (SAR) under the guise of providing specialized services and facilities.

Furthermore, the company failed to pay the mandated SAR 40 million compensation package stipulated in its contract. The report sharply criticized the ministry's failure to take timely and appropriate administrative measures, noting that due to this negligence, affected pilgrims of Hajj 2024 remain deprived of their rightful compensation to this day.

Foreign Missions Splurge Public Funds on Landscaping

The AGP report also highlighted severe financial discipline violations within Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad. It emerged that foreign-posted bureaucrats illegally funneled millions from the national exchequer into the beautification and landscaping of official residences and embassies.

Specifically, the report flagged an illegal expenditure of PKR 1.696 million used solely for the renovation of gardens at Pakistani embassies and consulates in Tokyo, Bangkok, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The AGP has recommended immediate high-level investigations and accountability measures to recover the misappropriated public funds and penalize the officials involved.