A recent audit report in Pakistan has revealed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) spent over Rs. 11 million (approximately $70,000) on unauthorized allowances for its former chairman and members in just one year. The report found irregularities in the appointments and benefits of former officials, including excessive payments for house rent, medical, and Eid allowances, as well as gratuity and expertise allowances. The PTA’s response to the audit findings has been deemed unsatisfactory, and the report highlights that the Ministry of Finance had previously clarified that officials on MP scales are only entitled to gratuity allowances after completing each year of their tenure.
A recent audit report by the Auditor General of Pakistan has uncovered shocking details of excessive spending by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on its former chairman and members. The report revealed that the PTA paid over Rs. 11 million (approximately $70,000) in unauthorized allowances to its former chairman and members in just one year.
These payments included house rent, medical, and Eid allowances, as well as gratuity, utility, orderly, and expertise allowances. The audit report exposed irregularities in the appointments and benefits of former officials. The former chairman and members were appointed on MP-1 and MP-2 scales and were not entitled to any benefits after their tenure ended. However, they received substantial payments, including Rs. 3.37 million in allowances, Rs. 3.3 million in gratuity payments, Rs. 2.87 million in Eid bonuses, and Rs. 1.4 million in expertise allowances.
The PTA’s response to the audit findings has been deemed unsatisfactory. The Auditor General’s report highlighted that the Ministry of Finance had issued a letter in July 2017 clarifying that officials on MP scales are only entitled to gratuity allowances after completing each year of their tenure. Despite this, the PTA wrongly paid gratuity allowances to former officials based on their base salary, instead of gross pay.
