Interior Ministry Tops Federal Audit Objections List

The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control recorded the highest number of audit observations among all federal ministries and departments reviewed in the Auditor General of Pakistan’s 399-page audit report, with auditors identifying 65 audit paras relating to non-recoveries, missing documentation, licensing irregularities, procurement issues, and administrative compliance deficiencies.

According to the Auditor General’s findings, the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control accounted for more audit objections than any other federal entity examined during the audit cycle.

Among the key observations, auditors reported the non-recovery of approximately Rs22 million in annual renewal fees and penalties associated with No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued for armoured vehicles. In addition, annual renewal fees amounting to Rs27 million remained outstanding from private security companies.

The audit further revealed that receipts collected from 3,421 arms licences, valued at approximately Rs56 million, had not been deposited into the government treasury, raising concerns regarding financial controls and revenue management.

Auditors also questioned the process adopted for converting manual arms licences into computerised licences and highlighted discrepancies in official records relating to prohibited-bore weapons.

Another audit observation challenged the decision of the Islamabad Chief Commissioner’s Office to revise driving licence fees and amend related rules without obtaining the mandatory approval of the Finance Division.

The report additionally pointed to the continued non-establishment of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Consolidated Fund and raised objections regarding the appointment of the Chief Commissioner without presidential approval. In response, the Ministry maintained that the appointment had been made in accordance with the applicable legal and administrative procedures.

A separate audit observation concerned a UNICEF grant amounting to Rs40 million provided to the Chief Commissioner’s Office for conducting a child labour survey. Auditors reported that records relating to the receipt of funds, bank accounts, expenditure, and utilisation of the grant were not produced for audit verification.

Management responded that the grant was administered through the Punjab Bureau of Statistics in accordance with UNICEF policy. However, the audit noted that no documentary evidence was made available to substantiate the utilisation of the funds.

The report also identified the issuance of stamp papers valued at approximately Rs290 million to vendors whose registrations had already been cancelled by the ICT Land Revenue Department.

Additional audit observations against the Ministry related to the computerisation of land records, collection of mutation fees, recovery of road challans, and alleged irregular appointments in several institutions, including the Frontier Corps (FC), Pakistan Rangers, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, National Police Foundation, and ICT Police.

The Auditor General also raised significant procurement concerns regarding the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), questioning expenditure of approximately Rs1.2 billion incurred on the overhaul of two helicopters without following an open competitive bidding process.

Auditors recommended that the helicopter overhaul be subjected to a formal inquiry to examine the procurement process, verify compliance with applicable public procurement rules, and determine responsibility for any irregularities identified.

Among other federal entities, the Higher Education Commission recorded 31 audit observations, followed by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan with 18, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research with 17, the Ministry of Science and Technology with 16, the National Heritage and Culture Division with 12, the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council with 12, and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission with 12.

The Ministry of National Health Services recorded 11 audit observations, while the Education Division accounted for 10 audit paras in the Auditor General’s report.