The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) withdrew a shocking report that claimed Rs375 trillion in financial irregularities. The original figure, 27 times Pakistan’s annual budget, was due to typos, the AGP admitted. A revised report, listing Rs9.769 trillion in issues, was posted on the AGP’s website.
The new Consolidated Audit Report of the Federal Government for the Audit Year 2024-25 corrects earlier mistakes. It notes that “trillion” was wrongly used instead of “billion” in two places. The actual irregularities total Rs9.769 trillion, still a huge sum. These issues, spanning years, include circular debt, land disputes, and company accounts. The audit itself cost Rs3.02 billion.
The original report, released in August, claimed Rs284 trillion in procurement issues, Rs85.6 trillion in delayed projects, and Rs2.5 trillion in receivables. These numbers, far larger than Pakistan’s Rs110 trillion GDP, raised doubts. Critics, including The News, called the figures illogical. At first, the AGP defended the report, but later admitted the errors were typos.
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The revised Rs9.769 trillion figure is still nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s 2023-24 budget of Rs14.5 trillion. The findings will go to Parliament after the President’s approval. The correction avoids a major embarrassment but raises questions about the AGP’s accuracy and Pakistan’s financial oversight.
The AGP’s mistake undermines trust in Pakistan’s audit system. Accurate financial reporting is key to managing the country’s economy. The revised report, while more realistic, shows ongoing issues in government spending. This could affect public confidence and policy decisions.
The Auditor General’s correction of a Rs375 trillion error to Rs9.769 trillion is a significant step, but concerns about reliability remain. As the report heads to Parliament, Pakistan’s financial transparency is in focus.
