The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by MNA Junaid Akbar Khan, on Tuesday reviewed the Ministry of Communications’ audit report for 2022–23, revealing serious financial mismanagement in Pakistan Post and oil wastage at the PARCO depot in Kot Addu.
Audit officials disclosed that Pakistan Post allegedly spent Rs. 4 billion that should have been deposited into the national treasury. The misuse occurred across 37 post offices, where funds collected from utility bills and postal revenues were instead used to pay pensions to Pakistan Army officers and process money orders and Western Union transfers.
The Secretary Communications admitted that the issue arose due to the absence of an effective payment system but claimed the system had since been fixed. However, audit officials rejected this assertion, stating the illegal practices were ongoing in various post offices.
Separately, PAC reviewed a case of gross negligence at the Parco oil depot in Kot Addu, where oil worth Rs. 18 crore was wasted. The matter involved oil flowing into a sewer due to negligence by on-duty officials, including one who left the valve open while performing ablution.
Managing Director of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) informed the committee that of the Rs. 181 million lost, Rs. 50 million remains unrecovered. A total of Rs. 42 million has been recovered from five penalized officials. PAC members raised concerns over possible misappropriation beyond mere negligence.
PAC member Shazia Marri questioned whether any company had been engaged to assess the environmental damage caused by the incident. The committee has referred the matter to a subcommittee for further investigation.
