In a startling disclosure, the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) subcommittee has revealed that more than 1,000 laptops distributed under the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme Phase-II went missing.
Audit officials informed the committee that 1,011 laptops were reported stolen or untraceable. While 784 have since been recovered, 227 remain unaccounted for, causing a financial loss of around Rs. 12 million. Despite the lapse, no action has been taken against those responsible.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) clarified that earlier discrepancies involved 179 laptops, but the number has now been reduced to 143, with Karachi and Government Sadiq College Women’s University, Bahawalpur, still under scrutiny.
The PAC has directed authorities to ensure recovery of the remaining laptops within one month, warning that if they fail, the losses will be recovered from those held accountable.