PESHAWAR: Authorities established an investigation after discovering that someone had stolen millions from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department accused a divisional accountant of embezzling more than 150 million rupees from public funds which led authorities to start an investigation.
The official documents show that the accountant Salman altered government cheques during his time at Swat district from 2019 until 2026. The investigators found that he had withdrawn illegal funds amounting to 66.6 million rupees by changing both figures and written amounts on the cheques.
The provincial Finance Department discovered that he had made an unlawful bank transfer of 92.3 million rupees into his personal bank account. The total suspected financial irregularities exceed 150 million rupees.
The accused person altered payroll records to receive higher payments while he diverted extra funds into his personal bank account.
The investigation established that the National Bank of Pakistan branch in Saidu Sharif processed the cheque clearances.
The Finance Department has recovered 9.3 million rupees which it returned to the government treasury. The organization continues its recovery efforts while conducting a forensic audit and detailed investigation.
The Finance Department sent a formal letter to the Forest Department which recommended that all accused officials should face immediate suspension. The department requested that authorities begin a criminal case against the suspect and place his name on the Exit Control List to stop him from departing the country.
Officials say the investigation will result in additional actions, which will take place during its ongoing process.
