Samar Bilour demands probe into KP financial irregularities

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor’s Adviser on Information and Public Relations, Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement, Samar Haroon Bilour, has raised concerns over major financial discrepancies and alleged irregularities identified in the provincial government’s audit report for the fiscal year 2024-25.

According to Bilour, the audit report has highlighted several issues involving billions of rupees in public funds, including expenditures that could not be verified and financial entries exceeding the budget approved by the Provincial Assembly.

She said expenditures worth Rs72.46 billion remained unverified, while additional financial entries amounting to Rs104.26 billion were recorded beyond the approved provincial budget.

The report also pointed out that development expenditures of Rs153.68 billion had been incorrectly classified under different accounting heads. It further identified a negative balance of Rs39.58 billion in the Public Account.

Bilour said the audit had also raised questions about the province’s external and domestic loan records. Documentation for external loans worth Rs98.89 billion was incomplete, while payments amounting to Rs51.85 billion against foreign loans and interest could not be verified.

She added that records of provincial domestic loans had not been updated since 2017-18. Meanwhile, federal government loan records had remained incomplete since 2013-14.

The adviser said discrepancies were also found in development budget entries and the financial records of several key departments, including Health, Education, Police and Highways.

Calling for an impartial investigation, Bilour emphasised that public funds were a national trust and demanded accountability wherever financial mismanagement or irregularities were established.

She stressed that those entrusted with managing taxpayers’ money must be answerable for their actions.

In a separate development, Samar Haroon Bilour has formally assumed charge of the Department of Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement.

On the occasion, she thanked the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor for expressing confidence in her and assigning her the additional responsibility. She said she was grateful for the opportunity to serve in the important department.