Subject: Urgent Request for Implementation of DAO IDs in IFMS/PFMS for Ensuring Financial Propriety

I am writing to you on behalf of the Punjab Divisional Accounts Officers (DAOs) Association, representing
the collective voice of DAOs entrusted with ensuring financial propriety within the Punjab Public Works
Divisions.

We humbly seek your esteemed attention to a critical issue affecting the financial integrity of our
operations: the absence of Identification (ID) for DAOs within the Integrated Financial Management
System (IFMS) and Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

As you are aware, DAOs play a crucial role in safeguarding the financial interests of our departments, as
mandated by the Punjab DFR and PWD Code. It is incumbent upon us to meticulously scrutinize each
payment before its approval and subsequent processing.

However, we are distressed to note that the current procedures do not align with these vital principles.
Payments are routinely processed through online portals like IFMS/PFMS, where only the IDs of clerks
and executive engineers are recognized. This glaring omission results in payments being approved and
processed without the indispensable oversight and approval from DAOs, thus jeopardizing the financial
propriety of our operations.

In contrast to other departments where the vetting of payments by officers designated by the Ministry of
Finance (MoF) Punjab is mandatory, the Divisional Offices of Public Works rely on DAOs for this critical
function. It is imperative that the protocols governing payment vetting accurately reflect the
responsibilities entrusted to DAOs within our department.

Referring to MoF Punjab letter no. 123 dated 12.04.2019, which mandates that DAOs must not clear
payments without obtaining the requisite work completion certificate from executive engineers, we are
dismayed by the lack of mechanisms to enforce this directive. The absence of DAO IDs in payment
portals severely undermines our ability to exercise control over transactions and fulfill our duties
effectively.
In light of these pressing concerns, we earnestly request your intervention in promptly providing DAOs
with mandatory OTP-secured IDs for seamless access to IFMS/PFMS. Furthermore, we respectfully urge
you to issue directives to treasuries, emphasizing the paramount importance of withholding payments
until they have undergone meticulous scrutiny and approval by the respective DAOs.

By addressing this issue, we can reinforce transparency and accountability within our financial processes,
thereby fortifying our department against the specter of financial impropriety.

We deeply appreciate your attention to this matter and remain hopeful for your swift action and support
in implementing these crucial changes.