A recent audit reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting diverted the majority of a grant intended for flood awareness campaigns to unrelated government advertising.
Out of the Rs. 1.95 billion fund allocated for public messaging on flood preparedness during the 2023–24 fiscal year, only Rs. 160 million was spent on the actual campaign. The rest of the money was reportedly used to promote various government initiatives unrelated to disaster awareness, which violates the rules of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).
The committee criticised the ministry’s lack of transparency and questioned why proper procedures were not followed. Lawmakers also expressed concern over the ministry’s failure to conduct timely Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) meetings, describing the approach as careless and unprofessional.
PAC has now ordered that the audit objection be sent back to the DAC for further examination and review.
During the session, further scrutiny was placed on the financial management of Pakistan Television (PTV). One member of the committee pointed out that PTV employees had not received their salaries for six months, while high payments were being made to guest anchors and external analysts.
The committee expressed disappointment at the imbalance in payments and questioned how such decisions were being justified while regular employees were left unpaid.
Officials from the ministry did not offer a detailed explanation during the meeting, but the committee has asked for a complete breakdown of expenditures and a written response on both issues.