Daily Times

KARACHI: A report by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has revealed financial corruption of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Karachi Water Sewerage Board (KWSB), and all District Municipal Corporations (DMCs).

The massive corruption and financial irregularities amounted to Rs 41.93 billion during 2012-13 and 2013-14, the report revealed. The audit report has been submitted to Governor Sindh Dr Isharul Ibad, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Sindh, and other departments of the government of Sindh.

The report reveals misappropriation/fraud amounting to Rs 3.1 billion, while non-production of the record was also pointed out that amounts to Rs 3.77 billion. In 49 cases, irregularities/non compliance were pointed out to a sum of Rs 38 billion and performance para-wise audit report related to operation of Compressed Natural Gas busses in 6 cases stands to Rs 16 million.

The DG Audit of Local Council was involved in preparing the report. Around 40 officials of AGP met Secretary Local Government Department, KMC, KWSB and 108 Union Municipal Committees regarding the preparation of this report.

The report further revealed that 45 percent out of total misappropriation in government funds were made in 2013-14 alone. Total proposed budget receipts of KMC and KWSB for financial year 2013-14 were Rs 25.4 billon but due to bad governance and lax responsibility of these departments only Rs 11.4 billion were received as income head.

Recoveries during the audit process stand around Rs 192 million, the report pointed out. Report says that AGP found around 54 grey areas in internal audit system of these departments.

The recommendations given by DG AGP to the secretary LG regarding KMC and KWSB were about making these departments do better recovery and take prompt actions against the corrupt practices of the officials.