Despite crunch: KP allocates Rs110m for honoraria to establishment employees

PESHAWAR: Despite serious financial crisis, the KP government is going to distribute a huge amount of honoraria during the last month of current financial year.

The finance department has allocated Rs110 million for honorarium for the establishment and administration departments. A finance department letter NO.BOIV/FD/2-7/2023-24/E&A/PR4017 on June 6, 2024 issued to Administration department refers to its letter NO. SOB(AD)15(12)/2023-24 May, 30, 2024 regarding allocation of additional funds for honoraria.

The letter says, “The Finance Department agrees to the release of additional grant amounting to Rs110,000,000 under object head A01273-Honoraria (DDO Code PR4017-E & A Department), during the current financial year 2023-24 subject to the observance of all codal formalities.”

The letter says, “The amount will be released to Establishment & Administration Departments after proper approvals. However the above amount will be released subject to provision of audit copy after approval of the competent authority for authentication of Finance Department.”

When contacted Secretary Administration, Mohammad Israr said actually budget figures and approvals are two different things. Once approved by the competent forum, authorisation will be issued to the finance department. However, allocation figures alone do not matter until approval by the competent authority and actual release of funds, he added.