Alleged Financial Irregularities Uncovered in KPK Education Department During PTI Rule

Alleged financial irregularities have been uncovered in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department during the PTI government’s tenure.

According to an audit report, alleged irregularities amounting to Rs374.3 million were identified in the distribution of tablets to newly recruited teachers. Shahram Khan Tarakai was the provincial education minister during this period. Tablets worth Rs424.7 million were distributed among 15,000 individuals.

A committee was formed to investigate the matter. However, according to the scrutiny committee, only 1,779 tablets were returned, while the whereabouts of the remaining 13,221 tablets could not be traced.

During the 2022–23 fiscal year, irregularities amounting to Rs48.7 million were reported in paper procurement at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Mardan.

According to the audit report, awarding a contract to a preferred firm in violation of rules caused a loss of Rs192 million to the national exchequer. The report also pointed out that the board chairman received Rs7.1 million in executive allowances despite not being entitled to them.

The report further identified alleged irregularities worth Rs13 million in the purchase of smartphones.

Details of these financial irregularities have raised serious questions about transparency and accountability in government departments.

Overall, financial irregularities exceeding Rs920 million were reported over a one-year period.