Irregularities in the procurement and distribution of tablets during the PTI era have come under scrutiny, with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department launching an inquiry following audit objections over the process.
The department has constituted an inquiry committee to examine the objections and investigate discrepancies, if any, in the purchase, distribution and use of the tablets. The committee has been directed to submit its report within three days.
As part of the investigation, the committee will physically verify the available tablets and examine stock registers to determine whether the recorded inventory matches the actual number of devices.
The committee will also obtain details of tablets supplied to District Education Officers (DEOs) and scrutinise the relevant records to establish how the devices were distributed and accounted for.
The inquiry follows concerns over allegedly missing tablets and aims to establish whether irregularities occurred at any stage, from procurement to distribution and utilisation.
Officials involved in the process will also come under scrutiny, with the committee tasked with identifying those responsible for any discrepancies uncovered during the investigation.
The three-day deadline puts the department under pressure to establish the facts and clarify the audit objections within a short period.
Earlier, Financial irregularities worth Rs920 million reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s education sector during a single year, according to a departmental report raising questions about financial management under the PTI-led provincial government.
The report identifies several cases involving the distribution of tablets, procurement of examination papers, contract awards and the use of public funds by educational institutions.
According to the findings, tablets worth Rs424.7 million were distributed among 15,000 people through district education officers. However, irregularities amounting to Rs374.3 million were reported in the process.
A committee formed to investigate the matter found that 13,221 tablets were missing, the report stated. The findings have raised concerns about procurement procedures, distribution records and accountability for public resources.
The report also highlighted irregularities worth Rs48.7 million in the purchase of examination papers by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Mardan.
In another case, the award of a contract to a reportedly favoured firm caused a loss of Rs192 million to the national exchequer.
The board’s chairman was also accused of withdrawing Rs7.1 million in executive allowances that he was reportedly not entitled to receive.
Additionally, the purchase of smartphones resulted in a loss of Rs13 million to the public treasury.
The reported findings have renewed questions about transparency and oversight in the province’s education sector during PTI’s 13-year rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
