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The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has detected billions of rupees worth of irregularities in Pakistan Railways (PR), exposing gross mismanagement within the state-run transport service that continues to incur losses, The Express Tribune reported Monday.

In his report for 2018-19, the top auditor pointed out
irregularities that amount to a whopping Rs97 billion and later directed PR
authorities to take action against those responsible for the massive loss to
the national exchequer.

“Pakistan Railways generated Rs49.6 billion in the last
fiscal year against operational costs worth Rs85.5 billion. As a result, the
state-run service had to bear a loss of Rs36.6 billion,” the report said.

Of the audit objections noted in the report, 56 per cent
pertain to PR lands, 20 per cent pertain to recoveries and 12 per cent pertain
to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The remainder concern losses
from theft, fiscal irregularities and embezzlement.

The report also revealed that Pakistan Railways suffered a
loss of nearly Rs15 billion due to the failure of its management to recover
dues from other federal government wings, like the Port Qasim Authority,
Pakistan Post, Water and Power Development Authority and the departments of
irrigation, food and education, and provincial and district authorities.

It pointed out that maladministration in the Railways Ministry cost a PSDP project Rs10.5 billion. It also noted that the PR administration had granted a contract worth Rs3.2 billion in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) rules.

“Railways authorities also unable to recover Rs2.6 billion
from provincial governments to repair level crossings and wasted Rs2 billion
worth of scrap as well,” the report added.

Delays in the repair of damaged railway coaches also cost
the state-run service nearly Rs2 billion, the report pointed out. It also made
note of Rs380 million worth of ‘fake expenditure’ in the repair process. The
AGP also criticised PR authorities for losing Rs3.8 billion due to inaction
while auctioning off railways roads and steel.

A staggering Rs52 billion worth of irregularities in the
state-run transport service occurred at the administrative level, the AGP’s
report mentioned. Another Rs50 billion in losses were a result of embezzlement,
fraud and theft. Around Rs6.5 billion were lost due to PPRA rule violations.