ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Finance had issued four honorariums illegally to its officers and employees worth millions of rupees during one year.

According to auditor general of Pakistan 2023-24 report, employees of Ministry of Finance from Grade 1 to 20 received an honorarium of Rs 225.4 million honorarium while officers from grade 21 to 22 minted 13.5 million rupees. It revealed that honorarium to ministry’s employees was awarded without formal approval from cabinet and prime minister. Audit report said that under law federal employees can be given one honorarium for special work in year.  Prime Minister had instructed in 2020 that Finance Division or ECC cannot approve honorarium. According to report, it is against law to issue 4 gratuities equal to basic salary to employees in one year. To save income tax, gratuity was issued on demand draft instead of cross cheque, it said. Audit report stated that income tax slab of officers was kept low by not including honorarium in salary. AGPR recommended action against responsible for aforesaid illegality.