Senate seeks audit of Rs2.6 trillion federal spending on health and education

A Senate subcommittee has called for a detailed audit of approximately Rs2.6 trillion reportedly spent by the federal government on health and education over the past 16 years.

ISLAMABAD: A Senate subcommittee has called for a detailed audit of approximately Rs2.6 trillion reportedly spent by the federal government on health and education over the past 16 years. The demand follows concerns about federal expenditure on subjects largely transferred to provincial governments under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Devolution asked the Auditor General of Pakistan to provide a complete record explaining how the funds were approved spent and audited. He warned that the total expenditure under review could increase if spending by other federal ministries and institutions dealing with provincial subjects was included.

The committee raised the issue during a meeting at Parliament House, attended by Senators Jan Muhammad Buledi and Poonjo Bheel alongside senior government officials.

Members examined reports from the Auditor General and Accountant General of Pakistan concerning federal expenditure on health, education and other devolved areas.

Senator Ghumro questioned the legal basis for the spending, noting that the 18th Constitutional Amendment transferred significant responsibilities in these sectors to the provinces in 2010. Referring to Articles 168 and 169 of the Constitution, he stressed the need to establish whether the expenditure had been properly authorised and examined.

He argued that approval of the federal budget by Parliament should not remove the responsibility to scrutinise how public money is used. He also said the committee needed clear evidence showing whether the spending fell within the federal government’s constitutional responsibilities.

Officials explained that their audit work was guided by budgets approved by the relevant parliamentary forum. They also acknowledged certain limitations in their audit coverage.

However, the committee said budget allocations alone would not provide sufficient answers. It requested detailed information about the purposes of the expenditure the authority under which funds were released and the procedures followed to audit their use.

The chairman directed officials to collect the information using a prescribed format. Representatives of the Auditor General assured the committee that the requested records would be submitted within two weeks.

The subcommittee emphasised that complete documentation was necessary to examine federal spending after the 18th Amendment and clarify the respective responsibilities of federal and provincial governments.

Senator Ghumro warned that the reported Rs2.6 trillion might represent only part of the expenditure requiring review. He called for wider scrutiny of ministries and institutions involved in areas assigned to the provinces.

The committee said the inquiry would continue after the missing information was received. No final audit finding establishing that the entire amount was unlawfully spent was reported during the meeting.