PESHAWAR: The Finance Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has uncovered a major case of embezzlement of public funds through alteration of official cheques and unauthorized transfers into a personal bank account.
According to the Finance Department, the Divisional Accountant of the Forest and Wildlife Department (self-accounting entity), Salman, has been accused of embezzling Rs66,600,000 (sixty-six million six hundred thousand rupees) by altering cheques.
Further scrutiny revealed additional unauthorized transfers amounting to Rs 92,314,627 from the provincial treasury into personal bank account of accused.
The Finance Department stated that these irregularities came to light as a result of strengthened financial oversight mechanisms, improved internal controls, and detailed reconciliation and compliance reviews across field formations, particularly District Accounts Offices.
These sustained reform measures enabled the detection of fraud involving tampering with official financial documents.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the modus operandi involved first verifying the cheque balance and then altering the cheque amount, both in figures and in words prior to clearance.
These altered cheques were subsequently cleared at the National Bank of Pakistan, Main Branch Saidu Sharif, Swat, without fulfilling mandatory verification procedures and precautionary requirements.
The Finance Department clarified that these fraudulent transactions were executed in violation of prescribed financial rules and without the involvement of the relevant District Accounts Office.
The report indicates that over a period of approximately six to seven years, serious violations of established financial safeguards, including the Federal Treasury Rules, were committed.
Upon receiving the information, the Finance Department immediately coordinated with the District Accounts Office and bank authorities to initiate action. As a result, Rs 9,300,000 (9.3 million rupees) was recovered from the accused and deposited into the government treasury under G/L Account Head C03328.
Given the gravity of the matter, the Finance Department has issued a letter to the Climate Change, Forests and Wildlife Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, directing that the involved official(s) be suspended immediately, departmental proceedings be initiated, and FIR be registered against Divisional Accountant Salman and other persons involved. Furthermore, necessary action has been sought for placing the names of the accused on the Exit Control List (ECL).
The Finance Department reaffirmed that the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains committed to financial transparency, institutional accountability, and the protection of public funds. Strict legal action will be taken wherever negligence or misconduct is identified. Further updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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