The Auditor General of Pakistan has identified financial irregularities exceeding Rs28 billion in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Peshawar project during the period from 2019 to 2022.
According to the recent audit report, significant losses were caused by incomplete commercial plazas, mismanaged contracts, and administrative lapses.
The findings show that Trans Peshawar Company suffered a loss of Rs118.6 million due to the free distribution of Zu cards, while the provincial treasury lost Rs485.8 million because taxes from vendors were not collected.
The report further pointed to irregularities worth Rs3.78 billion in the process of awarding contracts, and Rs11.32 billion in contracts granted to Intelligent Payment Systems (IPS) without clearance from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
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It also recorded the theft of 1,197 meters of electrical wiring from several BRT stations, resulting in a loss of Rs3.4 million. Additionally, revenue from bus advertising was diverted to vendors rather than being deposited with Trans Peshawar.
The audit noted subsidies amounting to Rs4.44 billion from the provincial government, highlighting irregularities in their allocation and use.
Another point of concern was the appointment of Trans Peshawar’s first chief executive officer, Fayyaz Ahmed, who, according to the report, did not meet the required professional qualifications for the role.