ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Post Office has come under severe criticism from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over allegations of financial mismanagement and unlawful hiring practices.
In a session held on Thursday, the committee reviewed audit objections linked to the Ministry of Communications and voiced alarm at unauthorized financial activities and blatant procedural violations.
The PAC meeting, chaired by Junaid Akbar Khan, led to the formation of a subcommittee to probe deeper into the irregularities.
The newly constituted body will be headed by Muneeb Amir Pirzada, with Nadeem Abbas, Khawaja Shiraz, and Saleem Mandviwalla appointed as members.
The committee’s concerns revolve around unauthorized bank accounts and suspicious recruitment practices that paint a troubling picture of administrative negligence.
Unauthorized Accounts and Fake Recruitment
Audit officials revealed that the Pakistan Post Office Department had opened multiple accounts in the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) beyond what was officially authorized.
While the Finance Division had approved three accounts, two additional accounts were allegedly opened without any permission.
“The audit flagged these actions, yet the department hasn’t taken internal measures,” noted an audit representative. Communications Secretary Ali Sher Mehsud acknowledged operational issues but was unable to offer a convincing explanation for the oversight.
The committee chair grew visibly frustrated by conflicting claims from the Finance Division and the department over whether account opening requests were ever submitted.
Simultaneously, attention turned to irregular hiring practices.
Audit reports disclosed that 4,252 job positions were advertised even though only 3,938 posts were sanctioned.
Further investigations revealed that many submitted credentials were falsified, suggesting positions were allegedly sold.
PAC Chair Junaid Akbar expressed outrage: “You’re telling us jobs were sold and fake documents were accepted — and there’s a stay order? This is criminal.” Senator Afnanullah Khan added that both bribe givers and takers should face legal consequences.
The PAC resolved to refer the matter to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for thorough investigation.
Public Funds Misused as Utility Payments Diverted
In a more damning revelation, the PAC scrutinized the unauthorized use of over Rs4 billion, which had been collected from citizens paying utility bills via Pakistan Post.
Committee members were shocked to learn that these public funds were redirected for purposes unrelated to their intended use.
PAC Chair Akbar equated the act to robbery, saying, “These were people’s utility bill payments. How do you justify diverting those funds?” Khawaja Shiraz Mehmood demanded disciplinary action against those involved.
In defense, Secretary Mehsud stated that internal measures were underway and emphasized the need to reconcile accounts with the National Bank.
The PAC has summoned senior officials from NBP for the next session to address unanswered questions and to help establish the scope of financial discrepancies within the Pakistan Post Office.
