PTI lawmaker demands audit of KP's Rs121bn supplementary budget

Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister and treasury lawmaker Sajjad Barakwal launched an attack on his own provincial government during the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session, demanding an independent audit of the Rs121 billion supplementary budget, 24NewsHD TV reported on Sunday.  

Speaking during the debate in the KP assembly, Barakwal urged the speaker to constitute a special committee to investigate the supplementary budget, questioning how billions of rupees had been spent without adequate disclosure.

He specifically sought details of Rs18 billion in expenditures, saying government departments already submit estimates of their recurring expenses in advance.

He questioned how spending had increased despite a ban on fresh recruitment in most provincial departments.

Barakwal also objected to a request for an additional Rs40 billion in supplementary grants, alleging that large sums had been allocated to the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) and various Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) without providing a detailed breakdown of expenditures.

He claimed that work had yet to begin on several projects for which funds had already been released, while older development schemes remained unfunded.

The PTI lawmaker further alleged that Peshawar was being unfairly targeted, claiming businesses had earlier suffered because of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and that extensive work was now being carried out along Ring Road in the name of beautification.

Questioning whether such projects fell within the PDA's mandate, Barakwal said it was regrettable that both the Planning and Development Department and the PDA allegedly lacked records of previous spending.

He added that expenditure details were unavailable not only for Peshawar but also for other districts.

Calling the issue a betrayal of the party founder's vision, Barakwal reiterated his demand for a comprehensive audit of the Rs121 billion supplementary budget, saying he would raise the matter on every available forum.

He also alleged that the budget amounted to "a Rs121 billion robbery."