The Auditor General of Pakistan or Auditor General is an government organization and the prime institution in the country for ensuring public accountability and fiscal transparency in governmental operations. The organization is expected to bring about improvements in the financial discipline and internal control environment in the executive departments for minimizing the possibility of waste and fraud.

Appointments

The Auditor General of Pakistan is appointed under the Constitution of Pakistan

Constitution of Pakistan

The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the supreme law of Pakistan. Known as the Constitution of 1973, it was drafted by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and, following additions by the opposition parties, was approved by the legislative assembly on April 10, 1973...

. His reports are laid before the National, Provincial, and District Assemblies and are considered in the Public Accounts Committee of the respective Assemblies. His mandate enables him to strengthen the legislative oversight by providing an independent and objective assessment of the process of governance both at the federal and provincial levels.

Budget

The budget of the Auditor General is classified as “charged” expenditure. All charged expenditures are not voted upon by the Parliament. This arrangement lends his institution a degree of independence. About 1500 qualified officers assist the Auditor General in the discharge of his responsibilities. SAI of Pakistan is an equal opportunity employer.

Location

The office of the Auditor General of Pakistan is located on Constitution Avenue, opposite to the Supreme Court Building in the Federal Capital of Islamabad

Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...

.

Currently, Buland Akhtar Rana

Buland Akhtar Rana

Buland Akhtar Rana is the newly appointed Auditor General of Pakistan, as of August 2011 under the orders of President Asif Ali Zardari. The previous auditor-general was Tanvir Ali Agha, who had resigned amid a controversy on whether he was able continue to hold office for another four months;...

 is the appointed and serving Auditor General of Pakistan.

Constitutional Position

The Constitution of Pakistan 1973 lays down the Role and Powers of the Auditor General of Pakistan as Follows:

Article 168. Auditor-General of Pakistan.

(1) There shall be an Auditor-General of Pakistan, who shall be appointed by the President.

(2) Before entering upon office, the Auditor-General shall make before the Chief Justice of Pakistan oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule.
(3) The terms and conditions of service, including the term of office, of the Auditor-General shall be determined by Act of [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] and, until so determined, by [156] Order of the P
(5) The Auditor-General shall not be removed from office except in the like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

(6) At any time when the office of the Auditor-General is vacant or the Auditor-General is absent or is unable to perform the functions of his office due to any cause, such other person as the President may direct shall act as Auditor-General and perform the functions of that office.

Article 169. Functions and powers of Auditor-General.

The Auditor-General shall, in relation to-

(a) the accounts of the Federation and of the Provinces; and

(b) the accounts of any authority or body established by the Federation or a Province, perform such functions and exercise such powers as may be determined by or under Act of' [157] [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] and, until so determined, by Order of the President.

Article 170. Power of Auditor-General to give directions as to accounts.

The accounts of the Federation and of the Provinces shall be kept in such form and in accordance with such principles and methods as the Auditor-General may, with the approval of the President, prescribe