Committee to probe financial irregularities in Punjab summons audit reports
Punjab govt ordered to quickly probe corruption worth Rs800m in 56 departments in province
LAHORE (Dunya News) – A special committee has been formed by Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif to probe the financial irregularities worth Rs 800 million in as many as 56 companies in Punjab. The committee – led by Punjab Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha – has summoned audit reports of these provincial departments in order to check their expenditures and employee record.
A meeting was held by the committee today in which the revelations were discussed. It was told that Punjab Finance Department said to have no direct control over these companies whereas funds are issued after formal approval from concerned departments. Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif chaired the committee meeting in which terms of reference (TORs) of the committee were decided.
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Talking about the mega corruption scandal, Dunya News Lahore Bureau Chief Arsalan Rafique Bhatti told that the committee has summoned audit reports of all these companies so that the corruption revelations can be investigated further. The committee approached accountants of the companies and asked them to provide employee record.
It was specifically mentioned that the record of all employees, both contract-based and permanent, should be immediately provided to the committee by the companies. Similarly, the record of all purchasing and recovery has been summoned. The provincial companies throughout Punjab will provide their employee and expenditure records. It may take a few days for these companies to provide the required record.
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Sources told that Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif became furious as the issue came to light. The reports of financial irregularities even shocked the chief minister and he immediately took notice of the alleged large-scale corruption in his province. He has assured to resolve the matter and punish those responsible.
