Islamabad, 30 May 2025: Unauthorized Cars have once again become a focal point of scrutiny after a recent audit report revealed widespread misallocation of official vehicles within Punjab’s Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), resulting in a financial loss exceeding Rs9 million during the 2022–23 fiscal year.
Multiple Policy Breaches Identified
According to the audit findings, a number of government vehicles were provided to personnel who did not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the 2008 official transport policy.
Unauthorized Cars were found in the possession of junior-level staff and officers working on temporary assignments despite policy guidelines limiting vehicle access based on position and rank.
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Auditors also discovered instances where vehicles with engine capacities larger than the approved threshold were distributed, contributing to inflated expenses in fuel, repairs, and maintenance. These irregular allocations led to unjustified government spending amounting to Rs9,095,063.
Weak Oversight and Ignored Warnings
The report attributed the violations to poor internal controls and a lack of administrative vigilance. Official reminders sent to the S&GAD in August and September 2023 were reportedly ignored, and although a follow-up meeting in January 2024 managed to address a few concerns, several critical issues remain unresolved.
This episode is not isolated. A similar audit in 2017–18 highlighted comparable misuse of state vehicles, which at the time had cost the provincial exchequer over Rs20 million. Despite these repeated warnings, effective corrective measures have not been implemented.
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Calls for Reform and Accountability
The auditors have now called for firm disciplinary actions and comprehensive reforms to curb the misuse of public assets. They stressed that without structural changes, the cycle of negligence and misuse is likely to persist.
The Unauthorized Cars scandal underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in government resource allocation especially at a time when fiscal discipline is crucial for public sector credibility and efficiency.
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