NAB, FIA launch probe into financial irregularities in Pakistan Sports Board

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has started its probe into allegations of financial irregularities in the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), Dawn has learnt.

In this regard, NAB has sought relevant record from the PSB — national sports regulatory body — including development expenditure and funds spent on foreign tours during the last five years.

NAB in this connection sent a letter to the PSB on Jan 2, 2024.

“The Bureau is conducting a complaint verification on [the] allegations of embezzlement of funds under the provisions of NAB ordinance…in this regard, it is requested to nominate a focal person who is well conversant with the matter and direct him to provide following record on urgent basis,” read the NAB letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.

In this regard, NAB directed the PSB to provide the details of all sources and uses of the funds including the government budget of the last 10 years along with internal and external audit reports for the same period.

According to the NAB letter, it sought the “details of all procurement made during [the] last five years along with requirement plan, relevant rules, procedure, award of contracts/agreements, purchase orders, delivery status and disbursement of funds. Details of all developments projects etc. during the last five years along with the requirements plan, relevant rules, procedure and award of works etc”.

The Bureau also sought details of the development projects of the last five years along with the requirement plan and award of the contracts.

NAB also directed the PSB to provide the details regarding the expenditure incurred on all foreign trips during the last five years, and details of the PSB membership issued and its fees collected during the last five years.

It is pertinent to mention here that during the past five years, the post of DG remained vacant for three years as the government ran the PSB through ad-hoc arrangements from 2018 to 2021 after the retirement of Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera.

In 2021, then federal government appointed Asif Zaman as new PSB director general who was replaced by incumbent DG Shoaib Khoso, appointed in May last year.

Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also through a letter addressed to the PSB director general, started its inquiry into alleged financial anomalies at the organisation.

“The instant enquiry is registered in FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad regarding irregularities in [the] total expenditure in the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the PSB,” the FIA letter, also issued on Jan 2, addressed to the PSB director general stated.

“In order to proceed further it is directed to appoint a focal person and provide the following record,” added the FIA letter, which sought the details of the PSB budget allocation for FY2022-23, details of request to the ministry concerned for budget allocation for the said financial year, breakdown of the budget for FY2022-23 and the expenditure incurred.