Over Rs2 billion payment irregularities uncovered at Multan hospital

MULTAN: An anti-corruption unit has uncovered irregularities amounting to more than Rs2 billion in the purchase of surgical instruments and medicines at Multan’s Children Hospital, officials said on Friday.

According to an official of the anti-corruption unit, “A bogus company was paid Rs179 million and no medicines or surgical instruments were purchased in return.”

“The company was also paid an additional Rs104 million,” the official added.

The national treasury has suffered a loss of Rs283 million owing to the payments made by purchasing officer Kamran Hafeez and accountant Tabshir Naqvi, the official further said.

The anti-corruption unit official said that they have launched an investigation against District Accounts Officer Riaz Haraj and auditor Ramzan Meo.

Moreover, the anti-corruption unit has seized all records from the hospital.