The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns about delays in the audit process for state institutions, Wednesday’s auditor in Pakistan (AGP) Ajmal Gondal informed public accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday.

AGP Gondal concerned the meeting revealed AGP Gondal that the IMF had expressed an alarm over nearly 600,000 pending audit paras.

“The IMF has demanded early settlement of audit cases on institutions,” he said, noting that around 500,000 to 600,000 revision changes in connection with various ministries and institutions remain unresolved.

Despite parliamentary directives, no head of internal auditor in state institutions has been appointed, Gondal said. “The financial audit system is deficient due to non-implementation of the rules,” he said.

“Secretaries and financial officers for institutions do not clear their audits,” he added, highlighting that only 15 institutions have financial officers, but no one has a boss internal auditor.

He emphasized the absence of internal audit systems across institutions, which has led to a growing backlog of cases.

“The number of pending audit cases with PAC has risen to more than 30,000,” the AGP committee said.

PAC also discussed the removal of an FBR official who allegedly refused to install a flag on the finance minister’s car. The FBR chairman explained that the officer used inappropriate language about the minister’s office, which led to her removal.

Committee members discussed whether a non-Customs-paid vehicle could even be marked, but the FBR chairman admitted he had not investigated the case. PML-N’s AFNAN Ullah Khan urged to reject honest officials without a proper process.

The chairman assured the committee that a fair treatment would be secured.