Key points

  • A physical verification audit at NED University of Engineering and Technology could not locate four high‑value machines belonging to its Food Engineering Department.
  • The missing assets are valued at approximately Rs 5.71 crore (about USD 30 million).
  • University officials have been asked to submit a comprehensive inventory and explain the whereabouts of the equipment.
  • Provincial authorities have opened an inquiry to determine whether the loss is due to misplacement, administrative lapse or intentional misconduct.

The audit, carried out as part of a routine verification of university assets, revealed a striking gap in the inventory of the Food Engineering Department in Karachi. The four pieces of equipment—specialized processing units used for food‑technology research and teaching—were recorded in the university’s asset register but were nowhere to be found during the on‑site inspection.

The disappearance of such expensive and technically sophisticated machinery raises serious concerns for students and faculty who rely on these tools for laboratory work, industry‑linked projects, and postgraduate research. With NED University being a key supplier of engineering graduates to Pakistan’s food‑processing sector, the loss could hamper ongoing collaborations with local manufacturers and delay innovation initiatives that the government is keen to promote under its industrial diversification agenda.

In response, the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) and the provincial Department of Education have summoned university officials to provide a detailed asset statement and to clarify the chain of custody for the missing items. Investigators will examine procurement records, maintenance logs, and any internal communications that might indicate whether the equipment was transferred, sold, or otherwise diverted.

The episode adds to a growing list of accountability challenges faced by public higher‑education institutions across Pakistan, where opaque asset‑management practices have often been cited as obstacles to effective use of public funds. If the inquiry uncovers deliberate wrongdoing, it could trigger stricter oversight mechanisms and possibly affect future funding allocations for NED University and similar establishments.