ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): An audit report has identified financial irregularities amounting to Rs 222.68 billion in the Ministry of Communications and the Pakistan Post Office Department during the financial year 2022-23 under Maulana Asad Mahmood, son of JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, as the Federal Minister.
According to the audit report, the irregularities related to recruitment, procurement, alleged fraud, private-sector contracts and unauthorised bank transactions were recorded.
The report findings covered multiple cases of financial and administrative irregularities, including alleged violations of recruitment rules, procurement procedures and financial controls.
The report identified irregularities worth Rs48.88 million in 40 cases involving alleged fraud, theft and robbery, while four cases relating to human resources and recruitment involved Rs2.73 billion.
According to the report, the Establishment Division had permitted the Pakistan Post Office Department to fill 3,938 vacant posts, from Grade 1 to 15, following a Finance Division directive issued on September 30, 2022. However, the department recruited 4,252 people, exceeding the approved number by 314.
Auditors flagged the additional appointments on political grounds as contrary to the approved limits and recruitment rules, raising concerns about possible irregularities in the hiring process. The report also identified Rs 3.26 billion in irregularities across five procurement cases.
Unauthorised bank transactions
Another major concern involved the use of private companies for postal correspondence services. According to the report, on March 20, 2023, the then Prime Minister had directed all departments, including Pakistan Post, to use postal services for internal and external correspondence to improve the department’s revenue.
However, Pakistan Post reportedly engaged four private companies during 2022-23. According to the audit findings, the companies received payments totalling approximately Rs2.87 billion during the period.
The report also flagged unauthorised administrative transactions involving a commercial bank, identifying Rs20.85 billion in financial irregularities in this category.
According to the report, the Finance Division had approved the opening of three accounts for Pakistan Post at the National Bank of Pakistan on June 25, 2021. The department subsequently opened five accounts, including two beyond the approved limit, through which transactions worth approximately Rs20 billion were conducted.
Auditors also identified Rs492.5 million in another case and recommended recovery of Rs3.74 billion across 11 separate cases.
The report further identified Rs194.54 billion in 15 other cases involving various financial and administrative matters, causing massive loss to the national treasury.
The findings point to significant weaknesses in financial management, recruitment controls, procurement procedures, and oversight of banking arrangements within the Ministry of Communications and Pakistan Post.
