By Our Reporter

Government arrears have increased by Rs. 91.59 billion in the last Fiscal Year 2023/24 and reached Rs. 733.19 billion.

According to the Auditor General's report for the fiscal year 2023/24, federal ministries and agencies have Rs. 47.74 billion in arrears, provincial bodies Rs. 4.20 billion, local bodies 25.32 billion and other institutions Rs. 14.33 billion.

The amount of arrears was related to a total of 5,759 institutions, including 761 local bodies, 695 committees and other institutions from provinces, and 3,093 from the federal agencies.

The Ministry of Finance has the highest amount of arrears – Rs. 33 billion. However, it is 1.37 per cent of the total audited amount. In terms of percentage, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has 6.12 per cent arrears (Rs. 384 million).

Likewise, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has 5.57 per cent arrears although it has Rs. 6.43 billion arrears in terms of amount.

Other agencies that have high arrears are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (5.16 per cent), Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation (3.75 per cent), Ministry of Communication and Information and Technology (3.47 per cent), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (1.87 per cent) and Ministry of Health and Population (1.83 per cent).

Ten ministries have 97.99 per cent of the arrears while the rest have 2.01 per cent.