It has always been a big question before scholars, intellectual and economists of the country that what the biggest issue of this nation is. Corruption, mismanagement, illiteracy, poverty, security, energy crisis etc – you name it and every issue is the pressing issue. The question remains what the biggest issue of this nation is. According to newspaper reports, the auditor general of Pakistan has unearthed 265 cases of financial mismanagement, embezzlement and overpayments to the tune of Rs 1140 billion in hydropower projects during 2013-14. An audit report covering the period from 2014 to 2015 indicates that the total auditable expenditure and revenue budget remained Rs 658 billion and Rs 603 billion, respectively. In compliance with financial audit manual, Wapda also conducted the audit of Rs 1262 billion on a test check basis, but only to find hundreds of cases of irregular expenditures, embezzlement of public money, miscalculations and overpayments.
The audit report reveals that various allowances were granted to the employees of the electricity generation and distribution departments without approval from the competent authorities. The case is being referred to the Ministry of Water and Power for taking up the matter with the Finance Division. On another note, various distribution companies had launched a vigorous campaign to recover Rs 242 billion from defaulters but it also ended in fiasco. According to another news report, the Ministry of Water and Power has admitted its failure in dealing with the issue of line losses, pilferage of electricity and wrong billings since the new government took over in May 2013 after general elections. Unfortunately, billions of rupees have already been lost in various electricity generation projects and every project has been marred by corruption and mismanagement. The nation needs a break to consider the unbridled corruption still ongoing on in development projects. However, despite revelation of large-scale financial mismanagement and corruption in the audit reports, the government agencies are seemed to be non-existent.
The government is taking loans after loans without realizing that it will soon reach the saturation point. The sincerity of the government is in question and it has to ensure transparency in every financial matter. Taking loans in the name of development only adds to the burden on every individual of this nation as every development project is marred by corruption and mismanagement. The nation is becoming hostage to the policies and dictations of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. There is a need to streamline the country’s affairs before it is too late.
