Audit Uncovers Rs423M Fraud in Sindh Auqaf

Karachi, July 23, 2025, 07:44 PM PKT — The Auditor General of Pakistan has unveiled a damning audit, exposing financial irregularities exceeding Rs423 million in the Sindh Auqaf department for FY 2023-24, reported officially, revealing a pattern of mismanagement. Rs75.941 million was improperly held in bank accounts instead of the government treasury, violating Sindh Financial Rules 41 and 41(a), while Rs287.356 million from contracts, rent, and Nazrana offerings—over a quarter—languished in accounts in Sehwan, Hyderabad, and Bhitshah, despite a December 2024 pledge to deposit funds by the fifth of each month, with no proof of compliance.

The audit flagged questionable spending of Rs347.539 million on maintenance, repairs, and development, citing lax procedures—no pre-audit for contractor payments, no qualified Divisional Accountant, and work without cost estimates. Completion certificates were absent, and measurement books were poorly maintained, with Rs322.633 million for Public Sector Development Program works and Rs24.905 million for maintenance. Past audits (2022-23, 2023-24) tally Rs1.696 billion in irregularities, including Rs717.209 million withheld and Rs979.027 million in construction issues. Officials’ verbal assurances in December 2024 and January 2025 meetings lacked documentation or corrective proof, prompting recommendations for inquiries, stricter systems, and warnings for mis-managing funds. Web context shows audit oversight trends, while posts found on X reflect anger—some demand accountability, others question enforcement. Critically, the narrative of “financial oversight” may mask systemic negligence—web data hints at recurring lapses, and X sentiment suggests distrust in effective action, pointing to deep-rooted issues.