ISLAMABAD: Audit reports were presented in the National Assembly on Friday pointing out Rs8 billion worth of misappropriation, irregular expenditure and violation of rules by the federal ministries, divisions and departments in the first year of Nawaz Sharif government during the year 2013-14.
The report of the Federal Accounts for the financial year 2013-14 and the report of Auditor General thereon for the Audit of 2014-15 were laid in the House as required by Article 171 of the Constitution.
The audit report of the Auditor General of Pakistan pointed out four cases of embezzlement of public money and fictitious payments amounting to Rs400.79 million, 108 cases of irregular expenditure/payments and violation of rules amounting to Rs171,629.569 million, 60 cases of recovery amounting to Rs35,559.336 million, eight instances of irregularities pertaining to non-production of record amounting to Rs1.089.049 million, 28 cases of weak international controls amounting to Rs931,028.734 million, 37 cases pertaining to weak financial management amounting to Rs578,221.006 million and 24 cases related to unsound asset management amounting to Rs11,306.376 million.
The report pointed out irregular direct payment of Rs329,923.253 million made from the Federal Consolidated Fund on the advice of the Finance Division.
The audit observed in its report that Article 170 (1) of the Constitution states that the accounts of the federation and provinces shall be kept in such form and in accordance with such principles and methods as the auditor general may, with the approval of the President, prescribe.
Section 5 (b) of the Controller General Accounts (Appointment, function and powers) Ordinance 2001 states that it is the function of the CGA to authorize payments and withdrawals from the consolidated fund and public accounts of the federal and provincial governments against approved budgetary provisions after pre-audit checks as the Auditor General may, from time to
time.
The audit is of the view that the irregular direct payments made from the Federal Consolidated Fund was a violation of Article 170 (b) of the Constitution.