Dozens of Government Vehicles Missing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Departments Unaware

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP is grappling with a growing administrative and financial crisis as dozens of government-owned vehicles have gone missing across various departments This troubling situation has apparently gone unnoticed by senior officials and oversight institutions .

Discovery and Scale of the Issue

According to a report by DND an official audit revealed that vehicles worth nearly Rs 8 million were unaccounted for within KPs transport pools These government assets are now untraceable Their last known usage or locations are undocumented The issue was first flagged in audit documents compiled during 2024 and points to deep flaws in asset tracking systems within the province .
Sources such as Wikipedia Dispatch News Desk and Aaj English TV have confirmed the findings which highlight broader concerns about mismanagement and administrative neglect .

Excise Departments Shock Revelations

The matter worsened when the Excise and Taxation Department became directly involved Aaj English TV reported that more than 70 government vehicles under the department’s control were found missing following the transfer or retirement of several senior officials .
Records show that many high-ranking officers including former Directors General and Secretaries retained multiple vehicles after leaving their posts Among those named DG Atif Rahman is said to have kept three vehicles while DG Saqib Raza and former Secretary Islam Zeb allegedly held on to at least three each Over a dozen other officials reportedly took one vehicle each upon leaving their positions .
Although departmental raids have resulted in the recovery of six vehicles two of which are currently stored in a government warehouse further recovery has reportedly been stalled due to pressure from influential individuals .

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Official Response and Investigation

Facing public criticism and mounting media attention the Public Accounts Committee PAC of KP launched a formal inquiry The committee summoned Excise Department officials to submit a complete inventory of all government vehicles This includes details on vehicles currently in use those allocated to other departments and those that were auctioned off or seized .
The PAC has also demanded disciplinary action and the recovery of Rs 187 million in tobacco-related revenues that are currently in limbo .
The Excise Secretary responded by saying that many of the seized vehicles are classified as case property not public assets and thus were not included in standard asset registers In addition the department only submitted required documentation in July 2021 four years after being directed to do so by the finance department The PAC criticized this delay as unacceptable and demanded better transparency going forward .

Broader Context A Pattern of Mismanagement

This is not an isolated incident Dispatch News Desk revealed in a late 2024 report that KPs treasury suffered total losses of around Rs 152 billion due to fraud fake payments and misclassified expenditures among other irregularities The missing vehicles worth Rs 8 million were highlighted as one component of a much larger problem .
Other concerns include illegal appointments in departments like health education and tourism budget overruns in major infrastructure projects and a rising provincial debt that now approaches Rs 725 billion .

Calls for Reform and Accountability

In response to the growing crisis the KP finance department implemented austerity measures in April and July 2024 including a ban on purchasing new vehicles for most state offices Only critical service departments such as health and emergency response are allowed to buy vehicles .
To prevent further loss lawmakers and civic groups have called for stronger asset tracking systems immediate retrieval of misappropriated vehicles and full legal action against those involved in misusing public resources .

Looking Ahead

With increasing pressure from the public and government watchdogs KP is now being forced to address the disappearance of official vehicles Although initial recoveries have been made deep-rooted bureaucratic resistance continues to hinder comprehensive accountability .
This case has become a symbol of the urgent need for transparent governance efficient recordkeeping and firm action against corruption If KP takes bold steps this episode could mark a turning point not just in reclaiming missing vehicles but in restoring institutional credibility across the province .