ISLAMABAD: After a controversy over the scope of audit of Prime Minister’s flagship Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme, the Ministry of Climate Change has finally agreed on an special audit to be conducted by the office of the auditor general of Pakistan.

Earlier, due to “technical reasons” the ministry had requested the auditor general of Pakistan not to carry out an special audit of the programme for the year 2019-20.The minutes of a progress review meeting issued by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives on Jan 4, 2021, had stated that the auditor general of Pakistan would carry out an special audit of the project.

But the Ministry of Climate Change contested the minutes, stating no such decision had been taken in the meeting.

Subsequently, on March 30, “revised” minutes were issued in which it was clarified that there was no decision regarding a special audit but a regular audit was to be conducted.

Earlier, climate change ministry contested minutes issued by ministry of planning

The very next day of the revision of minutes, the Ministry of Climate Change requested the auditor general of Pakistan not to carry out the special audit.

“I am directed to refer Director General Audit (Climate Change & Environment’s) Office letter…dated 24-3-2021, on the subject cited above and to intimate that the Special Audit of Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programe (TBTTP) 2019-20 has been planned to be held by your office on the basis of minutes of the meeting issued by the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives…dated 04-01-2021,” read the letter of the climate change ministry addressed to the director general audit.

The letter said the minutes issued by the planning ministry presented an incorrect position, “as the same were not in line with the discussion during the meeting. Therefore, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiative has sent the amended minutes dated 30-03-2021.”

“Director General Audit (Climate Change & Environment) is, therefore, requested to kindly consider the recommendations of the planning ministry and re-shedule its programme to carry out the regular audit of Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme.”

Sources said instead of contesting the minutes of the meeting and getting revised minutes issued after two months, the Ministry of Climate Change should have welcomed the special audit to improve positive scores of the project.

“I have no idea why our ministry avoided special audit. This thing raises eyebrows even if there was an error in minutes the ministry should go for special audit,” said an officer, who requested not to be named.

However, when contacted, Joint Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Suleman Waraich, who is the project director (PD) of Ten Billion Tusnami Programme, said there was a mistake in the minutes and the decision was about a regular audit, not for a special audit as the project is still in progress and it is a four-year programme which will end in 2023. He said normally special audits are done after completion of a project and for a running project a regular audit of a finical year is conducted.

He said special audit can be done on the request of the secretary planning and the secretary climate change ministry but in the said

case without bringing the matter into the notice of the secretaries a member of the planning commission in the minutes had decided for a special audit.

Asked if there was any mistake in the minutes, the ministry should got it corrected within days, he said as a routine business the ministry gets minutes by post after a considerable delay.

He alleged that some elements were trying to make the project controversial. The PD said his ministry contested the special audit based on the minutes only. “Otherwise we are very open to accountability,” he said and added that a few days ago the Ministry of Climate Change had decided for a special audit.

He said that on Monday last the Ministry of Climate Change on the request of the audit office had decided for a special audit and on Friday it also nominated focal persons for the special audit.

“External auditors, including some international organisations, have already conducted an audit of this project and termed it a successful story, so we are very clear.

“Earlier, we opposed special audit because of a mistake in the minutes of the meeting,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2021