KP Audit Irregularities Exceed Rs3.58 Billion
KP audit irregularities of more than Rs3.58 billion have been found in departments under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, according to an audit report covering the first phase of the compliance audit for fiscal year 2024-25.
The audit covered 14 administrative departments, drawn from 28 Principal Accounting Officers selected for scrutiny. It identified questionable contracts, excess payments, unauthorised spending and losses linked to inaction against contractors.
Audit officials also confirmed that Rs117.09 million was recovered between January and December 2025. That recovery equals roughly 3.3 per cent of the Rs3.58 billion in irregularities identified, a calculation based on the report’s own figures.
KP audit irregularities: the breakdown
The report’s main findings break down as follows:
| Finding | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contracts approved through questionable and non-transparent procedures | More than Rs1.205 billion |
| Excess payments for development and construction projects | More than Rs908.1 million |
| Unauthorised expenditures | More than Rs600 million |
| Losses from failure to act against contractors despite violations | More than Rs378.5 million |
Together, those four categories account for just over Rs3.09 billion. The remaining balance of the total above Rs3.58 billion sits in other irregularities and suspicious expenditures covered by the audit but not itemised in the material reviewed for this report.
The largest single category is contracts. More than Rs1.205 billion in contracts were approved through procedures the audit described as questionable and non-transparent. That finding raises questions about how those contracts were awarded, who approved them, and whether competitive process was followed.
Excess payments form the second largest category. More than Rs908.1 million was paid above what development and construction projects warranted, according to the audit. Unauthorised spending of more than Rs600 million points to money spent without proper approval, while losses above Rs378.5 million arose where action was not taken against contractors despite violations of their agreements.
What an audit finding does, and does not, prove
An audit finding is not a court verdict. It identifies spending that auditors could not verify as proper, regular or fully documented, and it calls for explanation, recovery or further inquiry where warranted.
Departments named in such reports usually have a chance to respond, produce records, or contest a finding. No detailed department-by-department response was carried in the material reviewed, so readers should treat the figures as audit findings pending that process, not as proven corruption in every case.
The value of an audit lies in the follow-up: recoveries, corrected procedures, disciplinary action where justified, and tighter controls for future contracts.
Recovery so far, and the gap that remains
The Rs117.09 million recovered between January and December 2025 shows that some money has come back. It also shows the scale of the remaining gap. Even if every rupee of the itemised categories were eventually recovered, the process would take time, and some amounts may be disputed or written off after inquiry.
For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the audit lands in a wider debate about provincial governance. Feature Pakistan has reported Governor Faisal Karim Kundi saying the Centre is failing to give KP the support it deserves, while a separate report covered 120 Swabi schools sealed over unsafe buildings. The audit adds a financial dimension to that debate: how provincial money is contracted, paid and accounted for.
What happens next
The next steps sit with the departments concerned, the provincial government and the audit authorities. They include departmental replies to each finding, recovery efforts, and decisions on whether any case needs referral for disciplinary or legal action.
Readers should also watch for the next phase of the compliance audit. The current report covers the first phase and 14 of the 28 Principal Accounting Officers selected, so further findings may follow as the remaining departments are examined.
Frequently asked questions
How much in irregularities did the KP audit find?
KP audit irregularities exceeded Rs3.58 billion across departments under the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, in the first phase of the compliance audit for fiscal year 2024-25.
What was the largest category of irregularity?
Contracts worth more than Rs1.205 billion approved through questionable and non-transparent procedures formed the largest category, followed by excess payments of more than Rs908.1 million.
How much money has been recovered?
Audit officials confirmed Rs117.09 million was recovered between January and December 2025, roughly 3.3 per cent of the Rs3.58 billion identified.
How many departments were audited?
The audit covered 14 administrative departments, drawn from 28 Principal Accounting Officers selected for scrutiny in the first phase.
Does an audit finding mean corruption is proven?
No. An audit finding identifies spending auditors could not verify as proper or fully documented. Departments can respond, and further inquiry decides whether recovery, discipline or legal action follows.
