Audit Uncovers Missing Government Vehicles in KP Livestock Department

PESHAWAR: An audit report has brought to light the disappearance of at least 80 government vehicles, initially procured for various livestock initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). These vehicles are absent from the official records of the KP Livestock and Dairy Development Department.

The audit, which covered the fiscal year 2023–24, exposed inconsistencies between the vehicles declared by the department and the information received from the Excise Department.

While the department provided a list of 97 vehicles, a thorough cross-examination revealed that 80 additional vehicles, all registered under the Director General Livestock’s name, were not listed in the records. These vehicles were also not physically present at the field offices.

The missing fleet includes 1 Suzuki Bolan, 10 Wagon-Rs, 1 Toyota GLi, 9 Toyota Hilux, and 59 vehicles of unspecified types. The excise data examined spanned from 2007 to 2021, indicating that the number of missing vehicles could potentially be even higher, as records after 2021 were unavailable.

According to the audit documents, these vehicles may be used by unauthorized individuals, and this oversight occurred due to inadequate administrative controls within the department.

Despite the issue being brought to the department’s attention in December 2024, no formal response was provided. A departmental accounts committee (DAC) meeting was requested via a letter dated January 8, 2025, but it had not been convened by the time the audit report was finalized.

Given these findings, the audit has suggested a special investigation to locate the missing vehicles and assign responsibility.

Provincial Minister for Livestock Fazal Hakim verified that recovery letters have been sent and that an inquiry committee, overseen by the Secretary of Livestock, has been established to probe the matter.