Islamabad – August 22, 2025
The Public Accounts Sub-Committee has expressed strong concern over the disappearance of 20 years’ worth of records related to Afghan refugee relief projects handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to an audit briefing, documentation for 11 projects funded with Rs. 5.5 billion is unaccounted for. Officials revealed that despite large sums being disbursed to contractors, no proper vouchers, ledgers, or cash books were maintained.
The audit further disclosed that Rs. 1.73 billion was spent on wheat supplies, computers, religious texts, and student aid, while Rs. 11.4 million went towards establishing a NESPAK office in Kabul. Additionally, Rs. 1.1 billion was allocated for scholarships benefiting 2,000 Afghan students.
Foreign Ministry representatives admitted that only “partial records” of these projects exist, a response that drew harsh criticism from committee member Bilal Ahmed Khan, who questioned how such crucial files could simply vanish.
When pressed, Planning Ministry officials stated that their role was limited to following instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office at the time. However, audit authorities clarified that while the Planning Division prepared the audit, actual spending fell under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Secretary of Planning said responsibility must be assigned to those who authorized the expenditures. The sub-committee has now directed the Planning Ministry to submit a full report within three weeks.
