By Our Bureau Chief
QUETTA
A Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probe has revealed massive financial mismanagement within the Balochistan Energy Department, causing losses worth billions of rupees.
According to audit findings, the department failed to utilise Rs2.31 billion from its allocated budget, disbursed Rs40 billion in subsidies without proper auditing, and neglected to recover Rs554 billion in unpaid electricity dues from influential landlords and various government institutions.
The disclosures came during a PAC session chaired by Asghar Ali Tareen, where lawmakers grilled officials over budget lapses, unverified payments, and unchecked subsidies. The meeting was attended by committee members Fazal Qadir Mando Khel, Wali Muhammad Noorzai, Rehmat Saleh Baloch, Safia Bibi, Opposition Leader Younus Aziz Zehri, Assembly Secretary Tahir Shah Kakar, DG Audit Shuja Ali, Deputy Accountant General Hafiz Noorul Haq, and PAC Additional Secretary Siraj Lehri.
Audit representatives informed the committee that in the fiscal year 2021–22, the Energy Department was allocated Rs10.4 billion, but only Rs8 billion was utilised, leaving a significant portion unused. Lawmakers criticised the wasteful budgeting, terming it irresponsible. Wali Muhammad Noorzai rejected the excuse of unfilled vacancies as “unjustifiable,” warning that the loss of nearly 30% of allocated funds amounted to “a serious offense.” Fazal Qadir Mando Khel insisted that those responsible would be brought to account.
The committee resolved to recommend disciplinary action against any departmental secretary who fails to return more than 5% of unspent funds to the Finance Department in time.
Further scrutiny exposed shocking irregularities in the subsidised tube-well scheme, where Rs10 billion was paid to K-Electric and Rs30 billion to QESCO without actual meter readings—payments were made purely on estimates. Members denounced this as blatant malpractice.
Chairman Tareen reminded officials that the PAC had already ordered an inquiry in 2021, but the department not only ignored the directive but also failed to submit a complete report. He warned that if this non-compliance continued, the case would be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Describing the mismanagement as “sheer plunder,” Rehmat Saleh Baloch said issuing multi-billion-rupee bills without proper documentation was nothing short of criminal.
The committee was further stunned to learn that landlords across Balochistan owe QESCO Rs500 billion, while government departments are liable for another Rs54 billion in unpaid electricity bills. Despite this, the Energy Department continues to make subsidy payments without reconciling accounts. Meanwhile, electricity supply across the province—except Quetta—remains restricted to only 3–4 hours a day, underscoring the depth of the crisis.
