The news item appearing in press revealed that the Auditor General of Pakistan has pointed out some serious financial irregularities regarding internal financial controls in Pakistan Army that dented the national kitty for rupees three billion during financial year 2009-2010. It has been stated in Audit report 2010-2011 of Pakistan Army that weak internal controls caused a loss of Rs. 39.877 million due to non-recovery of rent and allied charges. It was noticed from the record held with under mentioned Garrison Engineers (GE) that a sum of Rs 39.877 million was lying outstanding on account of rent and allied charges. The report reads 'This indicated that GEs and Unit Accountants (UAs), Local Audit Officers (LAOs) concerned were not performing their duties efficiently. It also mentions that electricity and sui gas bills were paid to supply agency from government budget but recovery from the consumers was not affected timely. Similarly, in another case brought to light by Audit is useless expenditure of Rs. 3.049 billion on procurement of 1385 vehicles. The report renders As per record of Vehicle Supply Depot (VSD) of Central Ordnance Depot (GOD) Karachi, it was observed that 1,385 new vehicle units having financial worth of Rs 3,049.640 million were lying idle since the last 3 years. Out of above total, 900 vehicles worth Rs 2,520.861 million were lying in open space rendering these government assets to the high risk of obsolescence, deterioration, corrosion due to local climatic conditions and pilferage of parts. Besides that cases of fake sales tax registration with millions of sales tax evasion have also been highlighted by Auditor General of Pakistan. From the foregoing it can fairly be concluded that public money has not been utilized as per rules on the subject. Eventually financial resources managed by government through taxing nation are being pilferaged. Army, normally considered to be well orchestrated and disciplined institution has also various loopholes within its formation. Financial irregularities distort the image of an organization. As such strong internal control and cleansing corrupt elements should be done immediately. IFTIKHAR SHAHEEN MIRZA, Islamabad, September 4.