ISLAMABAD - Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has unearthed unauthorised appropriation of funds amounting to Rs198 million in Pakistan Post Office (PPO) Department in the middle of the last year. Pakistan Post Office (PPO) management demanding supplementary grant made re-appropriation of Rs198.230 million in June 2009, without approval of the Finance Division, this was revealed in the audit report on the accounts of Pakistan Post Office Department audit year 2009-10 made available to The Nation. The report further revealed that the supplementary grant was not utilised for the purpose for which it was demanded. It may be mentioned here that according to sub section Para 13 of the system of financial control and budgeting issued by the Finance Division vide O.M No.F.3 (2) EXP dates September 13, 2006 the funds obtained through supplementary grants shall be expended for the purposes for which these have been sanctioned. While the audit report exposed that contrary to the above instruction, PPO management demanded supplementary grant amounting to Rs11,832 million during 2008-09. Out of which Rs1,094 million were approved by the finance division vide dated May 4, 2009, said the report. It was mentioned in the report that the funds of Rs140.52 million were re appropriated for making payment of unapproved incentives to the employees. Here, audit pointed this out to the management in September 2009 and PAO after two months. In its clarification, it was stated that the late receipt of NOC from the finance division for purchase of physical assets was the reason for re-appropriation. Therefore, re-appropriation of funds from overall approved budget was made in the interest of the department, the department clarified. However, according to the report the reply was not accepted as the funds received through supplementary grant was required to be utilized for specific purpose. It was also mentioned that DG PPO was not authorized to re- appropriate the funds from one major object to another without the approval of finance division. It is worth-mentioning here that Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) at the end of last year directed the management to refer the case to finance division for regularization. While, the report revealed that so far, no further progress was reported till finalisation of the report.