Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: According to a report, senior officials of Punjab Education Ministry, Higher Education Commission (HEC) and heads of various educational institutions have siphoned off more than Rs 5 billion during the current financial year.

The audit report presented to the auditor general of Pakistan revealed that senior officials took advantage of lack of financial discipline and weak accountability system in the province. It said that HEC Punjab has destroyed the record of expenditures of Rs 360 million which were not presented before the audit authorities. The audit report identified fraud of billons of rupees. The auditors pointed to lack of financial discipline and accountability in Punjab. According to the report, Punjab Higher Education Commission has destroyed the record of expenditures of Rs 360 million, which were not presented before the audit authorities.

Some Rs 270 million were spent on the renovation of buildings and construction of new blocks in different educational institutes. Heads of some of these organisations have deposited Rs 212 million in their personal bank accounts instead of Bank of Punjab in spite of clear instructions against such practice by the government of Punjab. But no action has been taken so far against the principals and vice chancellors who violated the standing operating procedures (SOP).

In addition of this contracts of millions of rupees for the improvement of the result system in the educational boards of Punjab were granted to people of choice in violation of rules and regulations. Punjab Ministry of Education high-ups inducted senior officials without advertising the posts in the media and additional Rs 36 million were given to these new officers. Meanwhile, without the approval of Chief Minister’s Standing Committee, procurement of Rs 27 million was done. Similarly Rs 20 million were embezzled in the name of cash awards.

An amount of Rs 27 million were plundered in the name of stipends to talented students. The ministry recruited some retired officers on contract and extra sum of Rs 15 million was paid to them. In the same way, Rs 100 million were paid to the universities faculty as special allowance without informing the vice chancellors, whereas the officers divided the fees collected from the students among themselves. The officers provided Rs 21 million extra to the contractors but forgot to recover Rs 15 million. Also, Rs 10 million were pocketed by senior officials on account of income tax.

Some officers of Education Department got full pay and allowance during higher study abroad. Under this head Rs 7 million were paid to them in addition to Rs 5 million under general sales tax (GST). The report said that Government College Multan and Government College Asghar mall Rawalpindi did not return Rs 70 million to the national exchequer, whereas Rs 148 million were misappropriated by Science College Multan. The report also shows that Rs 0.29 million were misused in Education College Faisalabad on account of purchase of science equipment.