LAHORE – A large-scale embezzlement scandal has surfaced within the Lahore District Health Authority (DHA), with an internal inquiry exposing financial irregularities amounting to over Rs1 billion, according to official sources.
The probe, initiated by the Punjab Health Department, found that officials within the DHA manipulated bills, approved fake procurements, and processed payments to ghost vendors, causing significant loss to the public exchequer.
Audit Findings and Method of Fraud
Preliminary findings from the Accountant General’s Office and internal audit teams revealed the following:
- Payments were made against fabricated procurement records.
- Invoices were inflated or duplicated to channel extra funds.
- Medical supplies were billed without actual delivery.
- Ghost vendors were created in the system to siphon funds undetected.
The scam reportedly spanned several fiscal years, pointing to systemic flaws and a lack of internal checks within the DHA.
Disciplinary Measures and Government Action
Following the exposure, the Punjab Health Department has taken immediate steps, including:
- Suspension of several senior and junior officials linked to the financial mismanagement.
- Referral of the case to the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment for further investigation.
- Initiation of a province-wide audit of all District Health Authorities to assess the scale of possible similar malpractices.
Punjab Health Minister, while speaking on the issue, vowed to take strict action against all individuals involved and assured that financial controls in public health institutions would be strengthened.
Public Health at Risk
The Lahore District Health Authority is responsible for overseeing health services across the provincial capital, including government hospitals, basic health units, and immunisation programmes. The misuse of such a substantial amount of public funds is feared to have compromised healthcare delivery at multiple levels.
Broader Implications
This revelation comes at a time when Punjab’s healthcare system is under pressure from rising disease burdens, shortages of medical supplies, and overworked staff. Analysts suggest that such corruption not only affects service quality but also erodes public trust in state-run health facilities.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment is expected to file formal charges following a detailed forensic audit and testimonies from those involved.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
