LAHORE – A recent audit of the Punjab Home Department has revealed serious financial irregularities involving over Rs550 million in secret funds.
The Audit Report, issued by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) for the fiscal year 2024–25, points to large-scale mismanagement. According to the report, the department failed to present proper records for secret service expenditures.
A major portion of the irregularities—worth Rs404.2 million—was linked to the accounts of the Additional Inspector General (IG) of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab. These funds were spent without documented proof or utilization records.
The audit also flagged Rs99.5 million in unverified expenses in the accounts of the Secretary of the Home Department. This points to possible discrepancies at high levels of the department’s administration.
In addition, questionable financial activity was reported in the accounts of the Additional IG Punjab, as well as various District Police Officers (DPOs). The report names DPOs from Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Okara, Hafizabad, Sahiwal, and Gujrat. It also mentions the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the CTD.
The audit team noted that despite repeated requests, no audit cards or supporting documents were provided. This lack of transparency raises concerns about the misuse of public funds under the label of secret service expenses.
The AGP report has recommended further investigation to ensure accountability and improve financial oversight. Experts say stronger internal checks are needed to avoid future misuse of secret funds.
This discovery has sparked debate over the unchecked use of confidential budgets in law enforcement and security departments. Calls for reforms and regular audits are gaining support among transparency advocates.
The Punjab government has not yet issued an official statement on the findings. Further updates are expected as the situation develops.
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