By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: An audit report presented before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed an alleged payroll fraud of Rs1.06 billion at Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), involving payments made in the names of ghost and retired employees.
The findings were discussed during a PAC meeting, where officials examined details of the alleged financial irregularities and questioned the authorities concerned over the loss of public funds. According to the audit report, the suspected fraud was carried out through alleged coordination among officials responsible for managing the company’s financial and payroll systems.
The report stated that the irregular payments involved the company’s drawing and disbursing officer (DDO), an executive engineer (XEN) and officials working in the office of the chief financial officer. The audit raised concerns over weaknesses in internal controls and monitoring mechanisms that allowed unauthorised payments to continue.
During the meeting, HESCO Chief Executive informed the committee that action had already been initiated against officials found involved in the matter. He said four employees had been dismissed from service as part of disciplinary proceedings. Those removed included three accounts officers and one finance officer.
Officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also briefed the committee about progress in the investigation. They said five criminal cases had been registered in connection with the alleged fraud and investigations were ongoing to identify all individuals involved.
The FIA officials told the committee that more than 130 people were suspected to have links with the case. They added that recovery efforts were continuing, with around Rs130 million recovered so far.
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