Pakistan’s Auditor General (AGP) has raised serious concerns over financial irregularities worth Rs. 885 million in the Special Communications Organisation (SCO) Data Center project.
The project, aimed at providing cloud-based services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), was approved at Rs. 770 million. However, the audit found several violations of rules and wasteful spending.
Key issues include failure to buy approved rectifiers and batteries, which changed the project’s physical scope. Auditors also noted that the number of servers was reduced from 30 to 15, but software licenses were still purchased for the original 30 servers, leading to unnecessary costs.
Other irregularities involved improper procurement practices, weak financial controls, and deviations from the approved plan. These lapses have raised questions about project management and accountability in the government-run telecom organization.
The SCO operates under the Ministry of Defence and provides communication services in special areas. The data center was meant to boost digital infrastructure in remote regions.
The AGP report recommends strong action to recover losses and improve oversight. It highlights the need for better planning and strict adherence to rules in public sector projects.
This audit is part of wider checks on federal organizations. Experts say such findings can help prevent future waste and ensure taxpayer money is used properly for important digital projects in Pakistan.
The government is expected to review the report and take corrective steps to fix these issues and strengthen transparency.