Peshawar: ( Ghag Report)
A major financial irregularity and alleged embezzlement have been uncovered in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Transport and Mass Transit, specifically linked to the bank accounts of the Director of Transport. According to an audit report, a profit of Rs. 10.94 million, generated from the revenue collected at the Peshawar Bus Terminal, was not deposited into the government treasury. This violation of regulatory compliance has led to financial losses for the public treasury, raising concerns about the misuse of government funds and breaches of state financial regulations.
The audit, covering financial records from the fiscal year 2018-19, revealed that Rs. 10,939,445 in profit, accrued in a PLS (Profit and Loss Sharing) account held at the National Bank of Pakistan’s Peshawar City branch (Account No. 3086090447), was not transferred to the treasury. The irregularity is attributed to weak financial management within the department.
This issue was first flagged in December 2019, with the finance department calling for immediate action to ensure the funds were deposited without further delay. However, no response was received from the concerned officials at that time.
It is notable that a notification from the finance department mandates that all provincial departments and autonomous bodies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deposit any profits or interest earned through PLS accounts into the government treasury. The failure to deposit the Rs. 10.94 million in profits highlights the lack of financial accountability and management practices in provincial government departments, shedding light on ongoing corruption and raising questions about governance effectiveness in the province.