Audit Report finds irregularities in Billion Tree Tsunami project
The Department of Auditor General of Pakistan released an audit report regarding Billion Tree Tsunami project. Certain irregularities and negligence were observed in the report.
From 2013 till 2017, the reserved amount of 14. 35 billion was increased by 30% to 19.44 billion for completion of the project. Privately-owned plant nurseries were awarded contracts unnecessarily, while no plan was prepared to achieve the targeted goals on time.
According to the report, the four-year project was delayed by two years and completed in six years instead. Out of 1468 closures, 516 were shut down causing the loss of more than 100 million to national treasury. A plant costing Rs9 was purchased in Rs16.63 adding more damage of around 300 million rupees to the project.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan also reacted to the irregularities and summoned the secretary climate change. Overall, the report made by AGP concluded that the major objective of making a greener Pakistan has not been achieved yet, instead it fell prey to the incompetent authorities and inadequate planning.
The Billion Tree Tsunami was an afforestation project initiated by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a response to alarming conditions of the climate change and global warming, In January 2020 National Accountability Bureau (NAB) also reported a loss of over Rs462 million in BTT.
