Financial irregularities amounting to millions of rupees have been exposed within the Sindh Department of College Education, according to a recent audit report released by the Auditor General of Pakistan.
The report, presented to the Public Accounts Committee of the Sindh Assembly, highlights significant mismanagement of funds, specifically implicating the Secretary of College Education for misappropriating salaries totalling Rs. 2.25 crore.
The audit details various protocol breaches, including instances where principals from several Karachi colleges misused funds. Notably, three college principals are accused of making unauthorized purchases worth Rs. 30 lakh without the required quotations, showcasing a clear disregard for proper procurement procedures.
Further disclosures from the report include the Government College for Women on Shahrah-e-Liaquat’s issuance of fraudulent salaries, which wrongfully distributed Rs. 47 lakh to individuals from other provinces.
The audit reveals a pattern of fiscal misconduct from 2020 to 2022. The Secretary of College Education authorized payments exceeding Rs. 1.10 crore beyond sanctioned posts and allocated Rs. 72 lakh for honorariums. Additionally, a staggering Rs. 1.22 billion was improperly spent on constructing a technical center at Cadet College Khairpur, violating established financial regulations.
The report also notes that several colleges spent Rs. 5.20 crore unauthorized on purchases made without competitive tendering processes, further indicating systemic issues within the department.
These findings point to a deeply ingrained problem of financial mismanagement within the Sindh Department of College Education, necessitating urgent investigative and corrective measures to restore integrity and prevent future occurrences. Departmental officials must take swift and effective action to address these issues comprehensively.
