A damning audit report has revealed significant financial irregularities in the National Assembly’s privilege travel voucher system. Between 2021 and 2024, MNAs were issued vouchers worth Rs1.16 billion, but official records showed only Rs1 billion in expenditures – leaving a Rs161 million gap unaccounted for. The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) flagged this discrepancy as a serious lapse in financial oversight.
Systemic Failures in Financial Controls
The audit found the National Assembly Secretariat failed to reconcile voucher encashments processed through the State Bank of Pakistan and recorded by the AGPR. Terming these practices “irregular and unauthorized,” the report highlighted critical weaknesses in the assembly’s internal financial controls. In January 2025, the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) ordered immediate reconciliation of these figures.
Delayed Accountability
When contacted, NA officials declined to comment officially but privately acknowledged the reconciliation process was ongoing. An anonymous source revealed most unresolved cases involve MNAs from Sindh and Balochistan, suggesting potential regional disparities in compliance. The Secretariat’s reluctance to address these findings publicly has raised concerns about transparency.
Growing Calls for Reform
This revelation comes amid increasing scrutiny of parliamentary expenditures. With Rs161 million remaining unexplained, critics demand stricter oversight of privilege funds. The audit underscores urgent need for reforms to prevent misuse of public resources and restore confidence in legislative accountability measures.