ABBOTTABAD, July 9: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee on Monday detected the Rs55.458 million worth of financial irregularities in the purchase of cattle, feed and medicines and criticised the provincial livestock and dairy development department (LS&DD) and the Agriculture University, Peshawar responsible for it.

It ordered the relevant authorities to recover the said money at the earliest.

In a meeting chaired by Speaker Karamatullah Khan Chagharmati here, the PAC reviewed 15 audit objections against the LS&DD and ordered inquiry into two of them.

Participants expressed concern over non-compliance with rules and procedures by the LS&DD and the Agriculture University, Peshawar in the purchase of cattle, feed and medicines. They took notice of the irregularities in the purchase of power generators, machinery, equipment and furniture by the livestock department and ordered recovery of Rs33.774 million from the culpable officials.

The committee also ordered inquiry into the expenditure of Rs33.892 million by the department in violation of rules and procedures.

The said irregularities were identified by the office of the director general (audit) in audit reports between 2006-07 and 2010-11.

The committee observed that negligence on part of the relevant officials led to purchase of machinery below specification and damage of certain procured equipment.

The chair referred the two audit objections about purchase and use of such machinery and equipment to subcommittee of the PAC headed by MPA Saqibullah Chamkani for physical verification.

Also, the agriculture secretary was told to hold inquiry into another audit objection regarding violation of rules in purchase of machinery, equipment and veterinary medicines at the cost of Rs20.471 million and submit a report to the committee within a month.

Mr Karamatullah observed on the occasion that the LS&DD needed to drastically improve its management to ensure foolproof financial discipline and provide better services in cattle farming and fisheries.

He said such efforts could help farmers earn livelihood in a better way and strengthen economy.

The chair said the PAC’s prime purpose was to ensure only legitimate exercise of the authority and detect anomalies in public accounts and misappropriation of the public money.

The meeting was attended by MPAs Malik Tehmash Khan, Mukhtar Ali Khan and Fazal Shakoor Khan, assembly secretary Amanullah Khan, agriculture secretary Afsar Khan, director general (audit) Sikandar Khan, the additional finance secretary and other relevant officers.