ISLAMABAD: The audit authorities on Monday flagged irregularities in the maintenance of records for “secret service” expenditures of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), informing a sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee that over Rs400,000 could not be verified.
The PAC sub-committee meeting, convened by Shahida Akhtar Ali, examined audit objections relating to NAB for the financial year 2013–14. Officials told the panel that out of total expenditures amounting to Rs21 million, an amount of Rs401,840 remained unverified due to the absence of supporting records.
The committee stressed that the amount could not be cleared unless proper vouchers were produced. “When an expenditure has been incurred, documentary evidence in the form of vouchers is mandatory,” audit officials maintained, underscoring gaps in record-keeping.
The NAB representatives informed the committee that the relevant fund was discontinued in 2019. However, auditors insisted that the closure of the fund did not absolve the department of its obligation to verify past expenditures. The committee, after discussion, disposed of the audit objection with directions to ensure compliance and proper documentation.
