Karachi Web Desk: The federal government has officially requested a detailed report from the Sindh government on the utilization of PKR 4.10 billion ($200 million) in World Bank funds. Federal Secretary for Education and Vocational Training, Mohiuddin Wani, has sought clarification on how these funds were spent.
In a formal letter to Sindh’s Provincial Secretary for School Education, Zahid Abbasi, the federal secretary emphasized that the government is implementing the ASPIRE program, backed by World Bank funding worth $200 million.
During the recent audit for the fiscal year 2023-24, federal audit teams raised serious concerns over the provinces’ failure to submit audit reports. This lack of transparency undermines the program’s core objectives—ensuring accountability and effective resource allocation.
Despite multiple reminders, no satisfactory response has been received, the letter stated. The ASPIRE program allocates 90% of its funds to provincial governments, highlighting their crucial role in its successful execution, while only 10% is reserved for federal-level activities.
The letter further noted that regular audits have been conducted at the federal level since the program’s inception, reinforcing the commitment to transparency and accountability.
In light of audit concerns, the federal government has urged Sindh to conduct an external audit of the ASPIRE funds and submit the audit reports to the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), Ministry of Federal Education (MoFE), and Planning and Training (PT) departments.
The demand for financial accountability comes amid growing scrutiny over fund utilization, ensuring that international assistance is effectively used for educational development.
