ISLAMABAD: Spokesman of Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) said Monday that AGP never conveyed any order to Power Division for authorizing the payment of Rs80 billion to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) without fulfilling legal formalities.

The spokesman was commenting on remarks of the Federal Secretary Power Division that “the Auditor General of Pakistan has given them go ahead for payment of Rs80 billion to IPPs without Pre-Audit.” The spokesman categorically denied the comments made by the Secretary, according to a press statement issued.

Spokesman said the AGP Office had prescribed the pre-audit checks for the purpose of Pre-Audit by Controller General of Accounts and all payments from national ex-chequer were made following the prescribed rules and regulations.

AGP has never conveyed any such order to authorize the payment without fulfilling legal formalities while the role of AGP is to conduct post-audit of payments, spokesman said.—NNI