Audit finds Pakistan Cricket Board paid PKR 4.17M in ‘unauthorized perks’ to its chairman

An audit report has raised serious questions about financial propriety within the Pakistan Cricket Board, revealing the board reportedly paid over PKR 4.17 million in unauthorized perks to its chairman, who also holds the charge of federal interior minister.

According to the Auditor General of Pakistan, the PCB covered Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s utility bills, fuel expenses, and hotel accommodation between February and June 2024, despite his entitlement to those privileges as a federal minister.

The breakdown includes PKR 2.4 million in utility bills for Naqvi’s Lahore residence, PKR 563,000 in petrol for a Toyota Fortuner, and PKR 1.16 million in hotel accommodation at a private facility in Islamabad.

Auditors flagged these as unauthorized payments, noting that under the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 1975, Naqvi was already entitled to PKR 22,000 per month for utilities, official car usage, and rent-free government housing.

“The Chairman PCB, in his capacity as Minister of Interior, was already entitled to these privileges at state expense. Availing the same benefits simultaneously through the PCB amounts to dual compensation, which is neither legal nor ethical,” the report stated.

PCB defense deemed ‘legally untenable’

The PCB management defended the payments, arguing that the law does not explicitly forbid benefits for ministers holding additional portfolios. They claimed the chairman was eligible for utility expenses under the board’s internal by-laws.

However, auditors rejected this defense, calling it “legally untenable.”

“A person cannot draw benefits for the same facility from two different sources,” the report stated, adding that allowances tied to a minister’s role must be paid from the federal budget, not from a public sports organization’s funds.

Recovery ordered

The audit report directed the recovery of PKR 1.16 million paid for hotel accommodation, saying the expense must be reimbursed by Naqvi.

Nukta reached out to PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed and a spokesperson from the Ministry of Interior for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication.