Interior Ministry tops AGP audit list with 65 objections over recoveries, licences and procurement

The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control recorded the highest number of audit objections in a 399-page Auditor General of Pakistan report, with auditors flagging 65 paras involving non-recoveries, missing records, licensing issues and procurement violations.

According to the AGP report, the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control had more audit observations than any other federal ministry or department examined.

The audit cited non-recovery of Rs22 million in annual renewal fees and penalties linked to no-objection certificates issued for armoured vehicles. It also reported non-recovery of Rs27 million in annual renewal fees from private security companies.

The report said receipts from 3,421 arms licences, amounting to Rs56 million, were not deposited in the government treasury.

Auditors also raised questions over the conversion of manual arms licences into computerised licences and pointed to discrepancies in data relating to prohibited-bore weapons.

The audit objected to the revision of driving licence fees and rules by the Islamabad Chief Commissioner's Office without approval from the Finance Division.

It also pointed to the non-establishment of the ICT Consolidated Fund and raised an objection over the appointment of the chief commissioner without presidential approval.

The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control maintained that the appointment was made in accordance with established procedures.

Another major observation involved a Rs40 million UNICEF grant received by the Chief Commissioner's Office for a child labour survey.

According to auditors, records related to the receipt of funds, bank accounts, expenditure and utilisation of the grant were not produced for audit examination.

The management responded that the funds were handled through the Punjab Bureau of Statistics under UNICEF policy. However, auditors said no supporting record was available to verify the utilisation of the grant.

The report also flagged the issuance of stamp papers worth Rs290 million to cancelled vendors by the ICT Land Revenue Department.

Other observations against the ministry related to computerisation of land records, mutation fees, recovery of road challans and irregular appointments in institutions, including the FC, Pakistan Rangers, GB Scouts, National Police Foundation and ICT Police.

The AGP report also raised objections over the Anti-Narcotics Force, where auditors questioned Rs1.2 billion spent on overhauling two helicopters without open competitive bidding.

Auditors recommended an inquiry into the helicopter overhaul, saying the procurement and expenditure process needed further examination to determine responsibility for the alleged irregularity.

Among other entities, the Higher Education Commission recorded 31 audit paras, followed by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan with 18, Ministry of National Food Security and Research with 17, Ministry of Science and Technology with 16, National Heritage and Culture Division with 12, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council with 12 and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission with 12.

The Ministry of National Health Services recorded 11 audit paras, while the Education Division had 10.