Accountant General

Background

The Office of the Accountant General NWFP was established on 1^st April, 1929 as a small Pay & Accounts Office and was responsible for Audit & Accounts of both Federal and Provincial transactions in NWFP. Subsequently it was re-designated as Comptroller, NWFP on 1^st November 1931. It continued to function as such till July, 1973, when its status was raised to that of Accountant General because of the tremendous increase in the scope of its activities and load of work.

Apart from NWFP and its adjacent Tribal Agencies, the audit jurisdiction of this office also covered Northern Areas (Gilgit & Baltistan). The audit of Northern Areas was, however, transferred in 1974 to the Accountant General, Pakistan Revenues Islamabad. Similarly, in the case of Frontier Irregular Corps (Scouts & Militia), the audit jurisdiction of this office extended to Baluchistan. But on the formation of separate office of the Inspector General, Frontier Corps of Quetta in 1974, the audit of the Units in Baluchistan was transferred to the Comptroller, Baluchistan.

On the formation of one Unit, the audit of two adjacent Districts in Punjab (Attock and Mianwali) was transferred to this office from office of the Accountant General, Punjab. Correspondingly, owing to centralization of works audit in office of the Director, Works Audit, Lahore, the works portion was transferred from this office. These arrangements were reversed in 1970, owing to dismemberment of One Unit. During that period the audit of ex-States of Dir, Swat and Chitral was also taken over by this office due to merger of these States.

The “District Accounts Office” scheme was introduced in NWFP in 1970. Initially it was experimented in one District  i.e Mardan. By now there are 24 Districts and 7 Agency Accounts Offices, in NWFP and FATA respectively.

Till July, 1979, this office was responsible for the audit and accounts of both Federal and Provincial transactions in the Province (including Agencies). On the formation of the Sub-Office of the Accountant General, Pakistan Revenues, in July, 1979, the audit and accounts of the Federal transactions were transferred to that office.