AGP points out Rs8,276 bn irregularities in federal govt

ISLAMABAD: The Department of Auditor General of Pakistan (DAGP) pointed out irregularities amounting to Rs8,276 billion in the federal government while irregularities amounting to Rs1,156 billion were pointed out in provincial governments during the audit year 2017-18.

The meeting of the Policy Board of the Auditor General of Pakistan held with Auditor General of Pakistan Javed Jehangir in the chair here on Monday deliberated upon audit themes recommendations for Public Sector Audit plan 2018-19 and is an effort to take stakeholders input before finalising the audit planning activity of the Department of Auditor General of Pakistan.

Previous meeting of the Policy Board deliberated on initiatives and reforms taken up by DAGP, proposing a way forward for collaboration with professional accounting and auditing bodies in Pakistan, and ways to engage with social sector and NGOs in audit planning.

While talking to the participants of the board, Auditor General of Pakistan Javed Jehangir said that during audit year 2017-18 the Department of Auditor General of Pakistan audited 8,746 audit formations with Rs10623 billion audited expenditure out of total 39,425 formations with Rs12451 billion total auditable expenditure which reflects the working and achievements of DAGP with regard to set targets and goals for its field audit formations.” During the audit year 2017-18 DAGP pointed out irregularities amounting to Rs8276 billion in Federal government while the irregularities amounting to Rs1156 billion were pointed out in provincial governments,” he told the Policy Board.

Considering the importance of reaching out to the stakeholders, the Auditor General of Pakistan said Department of Auditor General of Pakistan has always highlighted partnership as its key core value. DAGP seeks better relationship with its stakeholders by aligning its goals with the government reform agenda, improving communication with its stakeholders and working as partners to help clients to achieve their objectives economically efficiently and effectively.

The AGP said the Department has always endeavoured to continue its reform process to meet the emerging requirements of its clients and Parliament and has taken many initiatives over the years as part of its reform agenda. “There was a major paradigm shift when DAGP transformed all the codes of accounts and audit by replacing old codes/ manuals with new Financial Audit Manual and new reporting templates meeting international reporting standards requirements. It is a continuous process and we continue our reform process,” he said.

The participants of policy board meeting lauded the efforts of AGP towards modernising the Department by introducing major reforms in key thematic areas of auditing and gave suggestions on ways to improve interaction with stakeholders involving NGOs, civil society organisations and accounting bodies in Pakistan. The meeting was attended by the representatives of SBP, SECP, FBR, Ministry of Finance, ICAP, ICMAP as well as other members of policy board.