LDA, PHA: PAC-1 orders probe into financial ‘irregularities’

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee-I (PAC-I) on Monday ordered an inquiry into alleged financial irregularities in the housing, urban development and public health engineering department, directing officials to ensure recovery of outstanding government dues.

The committee meeting, chaired by Iftikhar Ahmad Chhachhar, MPA, reviewed audit paras relating to the housing, urban development and public health engineering department. During the meeting, audit observations revealed financial irregularities in the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), allegedly committed during the previous government.

The committee also ordered an inquiry into the non-recovery of dues from signboards and advertisements, saying the lapses had benefited contractors and private parties. According to the audit report, recoveries amounting to Rs 62 million are still pending. The committee also expressed concern over the non-recovery of more than Rs 3.1 million from PHA Rawalpindi.

PAC-1 Chairman Iftikhar Ahmad Chhachhar directed Housing Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal to initiate a probe and ensure recovery of the outstanding amounts. The secretary assured the committee that an inquiry would be conducted against the Director General of LDA and that the recovery process would be completed soon. He also committed to submitting a report to the committee within four weeks. Questioning the department’s performance, the PAC chairman remarked, “Why is your department not making these recoveries on its own, and why should it act only after being directed by the committee?”

The chairman further instructed all government departments to strengthen their financial management and internal control systems to prevent such irregularities in the future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026