ISLAMABAD: The National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra) is likely to appoint M/s EY Ford Rhodes to audit its accounts for the fiscal year 2019-20, official sources told Business Recorder.

National Database & Registration Authority was established in 2000 through Nadra Ordinance, 2000. Under Section 27 of Nadra Ordinance, 2000, the accounts of NADRA are to be audited by a Chartered Accountant Firm, appointed by the Federal Government in consultation with Auditor General of Pakistan from a panel of Chartered Accountants proposed by the Authority on such remuneration as the Federal Government may determine.

To select a chartered accountant firm in order to conduct audit of NADRA for the financial year 2019-20, NADRA has submitted that it floated a tender under the PPRA Rules 2004 and the following firms participated:- (i) M/s KPMG Taseer Hadi and Co;(ii) M/s Deloittee Yousaf Adil and ;(iii) M/s EY Ford Rhodes.

The Authority as required by section 3(3) of the Nadra Ordinance 2000 is under constitution after finalization of its rules and approval of the Cabinet. The audit of accounts of Nadra is a statutory requirement of the Nadra Ordinance 2000 as well as a mandatory requirement for filing of its tax return.

In order to discharge these obligations, the Chairman NADRA has submitted credentials of three firms for appointment of any one of them as Auditors of Nadra for the year 2019-20.

The concurrence of Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) was solicited as per 27 (2) of Nadra Ordinance, 2000. The AGP has accorded concurrence for appointment of M/s EY Ford Rhodes to audit the accounts for the year 2019-2020 of Nadra at an audit fee of Rs. 2,900,000, including out-of-pocket expenses.

The federal government is the competent authority to appoint the auditors for conducting audit of Nadra accounts as required under section 27 (2) of Nadra Ordinance, 2000.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021