An audit has flagged alleged financial irregularities totalling Rs920 million in the Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, covering a single year of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The findings have prompted fresh questions about financial oversight and how public money was used.
The alleged lapses occurred while Shahram Khan Tarakai served as provincial minister for Elementary and Secondary Education, according to the reported findings.
Tablet distribution to newly recruited teachers
Irregularities worth Rs374.3 million were identified in the supply of tablets to newly hired teachers, who were recruited through district education officers. About Rs424.7 million was spent distributing the devices to 15,000 people.
A committee was later formed to investigate. However, a scrutiny committee report said only 1,779 tablets were returned to the Directorate, leaving 13,221 devices unaccounted for.
Paper purchases, contract award and allowances
Separately, alleged irregularities of Rs48.7 million were reported in the purchase of paper by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Mardan during the 2022–23 fiscal year.
The report also said a contract was awarded to a favoured firm in breach of government rules, allegedly costing the public exchequer Rs192 million. In a separate case, the board chairman reportedly withdrew Rs7.1 million as executive allowance despite not being eligible for it.
Smartphone purchases raise procurement concerns
According to the audit report, the buying of smartphones allegedly caused a loss of Rs13 million to the public treasury.
The findings raise concerns about procurement procedures, the handling of public assets and compliance with financial rules across the provincial education sector during the PTI government.
