QUETTA: A special audit report of the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Project in Balochistan has revealed financial irregularities amounting to Rs16.8 billion.
The report highlights serious administrative lapses, incomplete targets, and questionable expenditures that have plagued the ambitious environmental initiative.
According to the audit, frequent transfers of project officials significantly slowed down the pace of the initiative. Out of the targeted 106.5 million trees, only 12.5 million were actually planted.
This shortfall in achieving the plantation target resulted in a financial loss of approximately Rs15 billion. Additionally, project authorities failed to provide audit teams with records worth Rs278 million. The lack of proper monitoring and evaluation led to the wastage of another Rs550 million.
The report further reveals suspicious spending of Rs20 million in the establishment of a mega nursery. Moreover, Rs50 million in taxes were never deducted as required. Payments of Rs9 million were made based on fake progress reports.
In another startling revelation, Rs6 million were paid without official approval to extinguish forest fires in the pine nut forests of Sherani.
The audit paints a concerning picture of mismanagement and corruption, raising serious questions about the transparency and effectiveness of one of Pakistan’s flagship climate change initiatives.
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