AGP Retracts Rs375tr Claim, Issues Corrected Audit Report

ISLAMABAD: The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has withdrawn a shocking audit report that wrongly claimed Rs375 trillion in financial irregularities. The figure had sparked disbelief as it was 27 times larger than Pakistan’s entire federal budget. Now, the AGP has released a corrected version, admitting that the word “trillion” was mistakenly used instead of “billion” in two places. The actual amount of reported irregularities now stands at Rs9.769 trillion, still a massive number but far more realistic.

The original report, published in August, had alarmed officials and the public with impossible figures. It listed Rs284 trillion in procurement issues and Rs85.6 trillion in faulty civil works. It also cited trillions in receivables and circular debt. Critics immediately questioned the data, pointing out that the reported amount was more than triple Pakistan’s GDP. Some experts even accused the AGP of compiling data carelessly or misapplying financial terms.

Despite the obvious red flags, the AGP initially defended the report. It even released a press statement confirming the original figures. Internal voice notes shared by the AGP’s staff showed no urgency to double-check the numbers. However, growing pressure from economists, journalists, and lawmakers forced the institution to review the document. Eventually, the AGP admitted to the mistake and quietly posted the revised report online.

The updated audit, titled “Consolidated Audit Report of Federal Government for the Audit Year 2024-25,” clarified the error. It stated that the inflated figures were due to simple typos, not factual data. The report also revealed that the audit process itself cost Rs3.02 billion. It further explained that the irregularities covered multiple years and included off-budget items like circular debt and land disputes.

Although the corrected figure of Rs9.769 trillion is much lower, it remains deeply concerning. It represents nearly two-thirds of the national budget for FY2023-24. The revised report will now be submitted to Parliament after presidential approval. Meanwhile, this blunder has shaken confidence in Pakistan’s top audit body. It has raised serious concerns about the quality of financial oversight and the credibility of official reports in the country.