IDEAS Expo Centre revenue loss: AGP settles audit para of TDAP

The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has resolved a financial dispute involving the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) concerning revenue losses due to the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) held at Karachi Expo Centre. According to the audit department's draft minutes, the issue involved Rs3.678 billion in unpaid taxes for additional days used by the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) for the exhibition setup and dismantling.

Out of 14 audit paras examined for the 2024-25 fiscal year, 7 paras totaling Rs3.481 billion were fully settled, while another 7 were settled conditionally. The remaining four paras, worth Rs73.961 million, were sent to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for further review. TDAP management explained that the practice of allowing DEPO additional days without charge was a longstanding policy, approved by competent authorities.

TDAP has now revised its policy to recover charges on a no-profit-no-loss basis for future events. The AGP recommended settling the audit para, considering the facility's strategic importance to Pakistan. TDAP officials argued that the audit team had not fully reviewed the approved plans and supporting documents.