Corruption Scandal Unfolds as KP Culture and Tourism Authority Faces Alleged Embezzlement of Millions

Peshawar, Pakistan:A major embezzlement scandal has been uncovered involving the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Culture and Tourism Authority, with suspicions pointing towards the involvement of a bank manager. According to recent revelations, millions of rupees were siphoned off from the authority’s account, leading to a formal notice issued to the bank involved.

The KP Culture and Tourism Authority has issued a show-cause notice to the private bank, holding the bank manager accountable for the unauthorized transactions. The notice also named a 16-scale computer operator as responsible for the illegal financial dealings.

The notice reveals that the bank operated the government account without proper authorization from both the Tourism and Finance departments, and failed to freeze the account despite a court case and government guidelines. In May 2023, the account contained a balance of 539 million rupees, but by July 2023, only 8 million rupees remained, with significant withdrawals occurring in the interim. The funds were originally held as bank guarantees from private tour operators, intended for deposit into the government treasury.

Additionally, the audit of the bank account was not conducted, despite clear financial regulations. The KP Culture and Tourism Authority has demanded a response from the bank by April 7, 2025, for further clarification.

This scandal raises concerns over financial mismanagement and corruption within the department and is expected to lead to further investigations into the broader implications of the alleged fraud.