Irregularities worth billions surface in Gorakh Hill project

Billions of rupees spent on the development of Sindh’s only hill station, Gorakh Hill, have come under scrutiny after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly pointed to serious irregularities and incomplete projects.

During a meeting chaired by PAC Chairman Nisar Khuhro, officials from the Culture and Tourism Department and the Gorakh Hill Development Authority were questioned over the audit reports for fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25, according to media reports.

The Director General Audit Sindh informed the committee that over Rs3 billion had been allocated for projects at Gorakh Hill, including a resort and related development works. However, audit officials said records of Rs177 million in expenditures were missing, raising concerns about misuse of funds.

The committee was also told that millions were spent on furniture and equipment for the Gorakh resort, including sofas, beds, and air conditioners, but no purchase records were shared with auditors. According to the audit, air conditioners were procured at more than double their market rates—stand AC units were purchased for Rs1.05 million each compared to a market price of Rs330,000, while split ACs were bought for Rs450,000 against a market rate of Rs200,000.

Officials further revealed that Rs2.89 billion was disbursed to contractors for the resort project, with 94% of the funds released before completion of work. Despite this, the resort remains unfinished and the project was later cancelled.

The PAC ordered suspension of officials who failed to provide audit records and directed the Anti-Corruption Establishment to investigate purchases made at inflated rates. It also instructed inquiries into the incomplete resort project despite heavy expenditures.

Secretary Culture and Tourism claimed the project’s records up to 2018 were seized by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), but could not explain the missing documents for later years.

Expressing displeasure, Khuhro said Gorakh Hill was intended to be developed into Sindh’s premier tourist destination but had instead become a symbol of mismanagement, similar to other stalled projects. He stressed that work must continue on the project as it represents an important recreational site for the province.