KARACHI: Director General Audit Sindh discovered another irregular and unauthorised payment of various allowances of Rs 735.174 million and Rs149.698 million in two different heads making a total of Rs 884.872 million in NICVD.  As per details during audit on accounts of Executive Director, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi for financial year 2020-21, it was observed that payment amounting to Rs 735.174 million was made on account of various inadmissible allowance to employees of NICVD, at exorbitant rates and without approval of Finance Department in violation of NICVD Act, 2014.

Irregular and un-justified payments of Non-Practicing Allowance made at exorbitant rates of Rs 149.698 million. According to Article 84 of Audit code, it is an essential function of Audit to bring to light not only cases of clear irregularities but every matter which in its judgment appears to involve improper expenditure or waste of public money or stores, even though accounts may be in order.

Payment amounting to Rs 149,698 million on account of non-practicing allowance (Full time Allowance) was made to various doctors from BPS-18 to BPS-20 as per rates discovered. As per Para 22 (1) of National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (Sindh Administration) Act, 2014, “Officers and staff employed in Institute before commencement of this Act shall be entitled to same terms and conditions to which they were entitled immediately before such commencement and such terms and conditions shall not be varied to their disadvantage. Officers and staff employed by Institute after commencement of this Act shall be entitled to same pay, allowances and other terms and conditions of service to which officers and staff of government of corresponding grade may be entitled from time to time. Act said that non-practicing allowance shall not be admissible for doctors who are working/posted on administrative posts, meant for non-cadre officers. Non-practicing allowance (is admissible to a person, who is appointed as Medical Officer for which prescribed qualification is MBBS or equivalent and whom private practice is not allowed in exigencies of service. Audit was of view that government sustained huge financial loss due to payment of inadmissible allowances which indicate prevalence of financial indiscipline within formation. Audit recommended expeditious recovery beside investigation of matter for fixing of responsibility against person(s) at fault. Matter was pointed out to management but no reply was received. Audit recommended that expeditious recovery of excess payment made as full-time allowance under intimation to audit.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 08 2022

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