QUETTA: A major administrative lapse has been uncovered in Balochistan, where thousands of government vehicles are reportedly missing from official records, raising concerns about oversight and accountability.
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According to a report submitted by the Excise Department to Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, a total of 3,762 government vehicles could not be verified during a province-wide audit. While the department’s database lists 14,304 vehicles, authorities were unable to confirm the existence or location of a significant portion during the verification process.
The report highlights that the Agriculture Department Balochistan has the highest number of untraceable vehicles, with 1,142 units unaccounted for. Similarly, 443 vehicles linked to the Balochistan Police could not be verified, along with 171 vehicles under local government authorities.
In Quetta, the situation is equally concerning. Officials were unable to locate 168 vehicles belonging to the Health Department and 131 vehicles assigned to the Education Department. Additional discrepancies were found in the Planning and Development and Services and General Administration departments, each reporting over 100 missing vehicles.
Other departments, including Planning and Social Welfare, also reported dozens of vehicles whose records could not be reconciled with physical verification.
In response, Chief Minister Bugti has formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter and trace the missing vehicles. The committee has been tasked with identifying lapses, fixing responsibility and recommending measures to prevent such irregularities in the future.
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The revelation has sparked concerns about governance and transparency in the province, with calls for stricter monitoring systems and improved record-keeping to ensure public assets are properly managed.