The Punjab government has decided to conduct a third-party audit of the free wheat flour distribution scheme in Punjab, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Saturday.
Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi announced to have an impartial and transparent audit of the free Atta scheme to answer the baseless allegations leveled by some Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has alleged that Rs20 billion was looted during the free floor distribution programme, which was first rolled out in Punjab.
The Chief Minister said that in order to ensure financial discipline, the free flour scheme will be audited by the Auditor General of Pakistan’s (AGP) Office and a private audit firm of international repute.
https://twitter.com/MohsinnaqviC42/status/1654810997910130690
Taking to Twitter, he penned that baseless allegations by some PML-N leaders regarding the “Free Atta Scheme” in Punjab being put to independent audit in the interest of transparency and financial prudence.
“We have decided to go for an immediate audit through Auditor General Pakistan office, and simultaneously through a private audit firm of established international repute,” he said adding that further, we have also sent a request to the Chairman NAB to check into the program to verify if anything of the sort has been done by any nefarious elements.
He further said that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman has also been requested to examine the scheme so that the facts can be brought out and the perpetrators of corruption can be brought to justice.
The Punjab caretaker government already termed corruption allegations “false and fabricated”.