Quetta: Balochistan Education Department Faces Rs 6.4 Billion Irregularities Revealed in Special Audit

Quetta:A **special audit report** presented in the **Balochistan Assembly** has uncovered **financial irregularities amounting to Rs 6.4 billion** in the accounts of the Directorate of Schools, Balochistan’s Education Department, for the period **2017–2022**.

According to the **Auditor General of Pakistan’s report**, major findings include:

* **90 lakh textbooks** were never distributed to students over five years.
* An unauthorized payment of **Rs 2.59 billion** was made for textbook printing **without official approval**.
* **Records worth Rs 1.11 billion** were not provided to the audit team.
* **Unused funds** amounting to **Rs 362 million** remained idle during the five-year period.
* Rs **301 million** were kept without proper documentation or approval.
* Payments worth **Rs 116 million** were made irregularly through Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs).
* Due to slow implementation of the **EMIS (Education Management Information System)** project, **Rs 422 million** went unutilized.

Further irregularities include:

* A **loss of Rs 1.83 billion** due to **purchases made without tenders or procedural compliance**.
* Luxury items worth **Rs 11.4 million** were bought for official vehicles without open tendering.
* Rs **11.7 million** were spent on **ghost schools** without tender processes.
* An additional **Rs 260 million** was spent on transport **without estimates or tenders**.
* **Fuel and vehicle repair costs** showed discrepancies of **Rs 23.3 million**.
* **366 employees** were hired **in excess of sanctioned posts**.

The report, spanning five years of financial oversight, has been forwarded to the **Balochistan Assembly’s Standing Committee** for further investigation.

The revelations raise serious concerns over **governance, transparency, and accountability** within the province’s education sector, which continues to face chronic underperformance and resource constraints.