Serious financial irregularities and administrative negligence have been revealed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Food Department, according to the audit report for the fiscal year 2024–25. The report records discrepancies amounting to more than Rs7.19 billion.
The most significant irregularities were found in wheat procurement, where over Rs6.13 billion were allegedly spent through non-transparent means. The report further highlights that the purchase of overpriced wheat caused a direct loss of Rs10 million to the national exchequer.
The audit also pointed to delays in the launch of key initiatives such as the "Insaf Food Card" project. Although Rs500 million had been released for the program, delays in its implementation resulted in a loss of Rs188 million.
Additionally, the failure to timely recover various fines cost the government Rs133.5 million. The procurement of an unnecessary chromatography machine led to another wasteful expenditure of Rs23.8 million.
Moreover, the audit observed that delays in license renewals caused an additional loss of Rs210 million, reflecting further administrative negligence within the department.