The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has pointed out Rs 4.21 billion financial irregularities/unauthorized payments/violation of rules while conducting special audit of the accounts of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA). The report unearthed Rs 1.34 billion irregular/unauthorized payments/violation of rules in the accounts of ERRA in 14 cases. The annual audit report detected a total of Rs 1.92 billion as irregular/unauthorized payments/violation of rules in ERRA.

The AGP pointed out 24 cases of recoveries in ERRA financial accounts involving Rs 718.26 million. The audit report noted that Rs 136.39 million liquidated damages were not imposed by the authority against contract violators and that an amount of Rs 60.44 million was paid to a contractor on account of general items supplies without vouchers.

It further observed inappropriate/irregular asset management amounting to Rs 34.89 million in accounts. The AGP has advised the Principal Accounting Officers (PAOs) to ensure strengthening of internal control systems and internal audit to be conducted on a regular basis which should be shared with the auditor general of Pakistan office.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019