By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Over billions in public funds may have been fraudulently withdrawn in recent years through the misuse of imprest payments—an emergency cash facility meant for minor operational expenses.Credible sources allege that the misuse of funds, tax evasion, and bypassing of bidding rules in key infrastructure operations.
The Daily World Tribune has learned through credible sources within the National Highway Authority (NHA) allege that from 2020-21 to the present, NHA has increasingly relied on departmental operations—bypassing competitive bidding—to manage critical infrastructure such as toll plazas, tunnels, service areas, weigh stations, mobile workshops, recovery vehicles, and even fire and ambulance services.
This internal handling of large-scale services, intended as a temporary measure, has reportedly become routine. Insiders claim that deliberate delays in procurement are used to justify ongoing departmental control, allowing unchecked disbursement of large cash amounts under imprest heads.
The sources explained that as per NHA Toll Plazas to be out sourced for toll collection,but some unscrupulous elements in NHA and Ministry of Communications hamper the bidding process by showing high reserve prices for some Toll Plaza. The auction of those Plaza do not succeed and NHA run those Plazas at its own but revenue collected from such plazas are far less than the reserve price (40 to 30 %)less the reserve price. Secondly hurdles are created for private toll operators who won the construct of toll collection so,these Plazas are run by NHA itself. What NHA do they use the services of their hand picked operators to run such Plazas. The tool such collected partially goes into NHA officers pocket and partially to such toll operators im the Tax is not deposited which otherwise would be deposited by the operators if he has to collect the toll through a contract.
According to the sources revealed mismanagement,irregularities in the main communication authority i.e NHA at high level to bottom. According to the some serious allegations which have surfaced that lack of documentation and massive cash payments were reportedly made without proper records such as CNICs, CVs, appointment letters, or equipment purchase receipts.
Payments to vendors and staff were often made in cash instead of through cheques, sidestepping income tax deductions and violating government others financial rules.
Inflated costs:
In some instances, especially tunnel operations, departmental costs were significantly higher than those incurred via private contractors.
Revenue losses:
Sources confirm a noticeable drop in toll and service area revenues during departmental control, while imprest spending surged.
Unaccounted fine collections:
Police fine collections were reportedly made under imprest without any supporting expense records.
Ghost expenditures:
In some weigh stations, operation and maintenance costs were shown without any proof of activity or expenditure.
The misuse of imprest accounts, which lack strict oversight mechanisms, has opened the door to widespread corruption, insiders warn.
Sources also allege that some private contractors—who failed to secure projects through proper tenders—were later engaged informally by NHA officials during departmental operations, raising serious concerns of favoritism and collusion. “The entire purpose of competitive bidding is being undermined. It creates space for misappropriation of public money,” a senior NHA official told Daily World Tribune on condition of anonymity.
Insiders are calling for an urgent audit of all imprest withdrawals made under departmental operations since 2020, along with verification of the staff and services claimed during these periods. They recommend disciplinary action against officials involved in unauthorized cash payments and a complete halt to using imprest as a substitute for transparent procurement.
Despite repeated complaints internally, no formal investigation has been initiated so far.
Further details of the financial scandles will be publish soon.
