PAC Warns Energy Department Over Budget Irregularities, Orders Strict Accountability
PAC directed the recovery of all outstanding dues within one month
Independent Report
QUETTA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Asghar Ali Trin, held a tough review of the Energy Department’s budget and financial irregularities. Committee members Fazal Qadir Mandokhail, Wali Muhammad Norizai, Rahmat Saleh Baloch, and Safia Bibi attended, along with Opposition Leader Yunus Aziz Zehri, Secretary Assembly Tahir Shah Kakar, DG Audit Shuja Ali, Deputy Accountant General Hafiz Noor-ul-Haq, and Additional Secretary PAC Siraj Lehri.
The session revealed that in fiscal year 2021-22, the department received PKR 10.4 billion, of which PKR 8 billion were spent while PKR 2.31 billion lapsed. Members strongly criticized the 30% unspent funds as poor financial planning. Fazal Qadir Mandokhail warned that negligent officials would face strict punishment.
PAC also flagged major irregularities in subsidized tube wells, noting that K-Electric received PKR 10 billion and QESCO PKR 30 billion without proper meter readings. Farmers reportedly owe QESCO PKR 50 billion, while government institutions owe PKR 5.4 billion. The committee further noted K-Electric’s failure to remit electricity duty and sales tax, which caused heavy losses to the provincial treasury.
PAC directed the recovery of all outstanding dues within one month, cautioning that persistent negligence may lead to NAB intervention. “Such mismanagement cannot continue—accountability and transparency will be strictly enforced,” the committee concluded.
