HEC Purchased Costly Laptops Causing Loss of Rs. 130 Million to National Kitty

The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has highlighted serious financial irregularities in the federal government’s spending during the fiscal year 2024-25, with a key finding that the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) purchase of expensive laptops inflicted a loss of Rs. 130 million on the national exchequer. The audit report, released on Tuesday, revealed that grants worth Rs. 513 billion were issued without parliamentary approval, while Rs. 265 billion allocated to 175 federal departments lapsed without being utilized. In addition, Rs. 212 billion from 12 grants lapsed because they were not surrendered in time. The report also noted that several ministries requested Rs. 24 billion in supplementary grants without due scrutiny and overspent an additional Rs. 12 billion beyond their approved allocations. Another significant finding stated that the Office of the Attorney General of Pakistan operates as a sub-office of the Law Ministry rather than as an independent constitutional body, undermining its autonomy. The report further pointed out that federal entities and provincial governments still owe Rs. 214 billion in wheat-related dues.