Astana Audit Commission found the planning of KZT 7.57 billion in expenditure by the digitalisation department for 2023–2025 to be ineffective. Of that sum, about KZT 6.88 billion was returned to the budget, and a further KZT 695.5 million was reallocated to other expenditure.
WHAT THE BUDGET FUNDS WERE PLANNED TO BE SPENT ON
According to BES.media, the Astana Audit Commission examined the digitalisation department's expenditure for 2023–2025 and identified insufficient justification in the planning of two budget programmes.
The first programme provided for compensation of investment and operating costs under public-private partnership (PPP) projects. In 2023, its budget was cut by KZT 1.35 billion. The funds had initially been intended for a photo and video surveillance and video analytics project in the capital.
After the cut, KZT 4.2 billion remained in the programme. Of that, KZT 1.39 billion was allocated to repay debt owed to the private partner that had arisen by the end of 2022, and a further KZT 2.8 billion — to meet obligations for 2023.
Under the second programme — "Services for ensuring the development of innovation activity" — auditors found the planning of KZT 6.22 billion to be ineffective. Of that sum, KZT 3.76 billion related to 2024 and KZT 2.46 billion — to 2025.
WHY THE PROJECTS WERE NOT DELIVERED ON SCHEDULE
The conclusion sets out several reasons for revising the expenditure. It was revised because of postponed deadlines, technical unreadiness of projects, the need for additional analysis and the release of funds following public procurement. Some initiatives were cancelled or deemed duplicative, and certain contracts were terminated because of problems with suppliers.
Auditors considered this a sign of insufficient justification in budget planning.
WHICH PROJECTS WERE EXCLUDED FROM EXPENDITURE
In autumn 2024, after another budget adjustment, the digitalisation department returned KZT 1.73 billion previously earmarked for ten projects.
Among the largest items abandoned were KZT 440 million for video analytics in schools, since the project was to be delivered through a PPP, and KZT 389.6 million for creating a "data lake" because of the risk of poor delivery within the remaining deadlines. A further KZT 365.1 million was returned from the photo and video surveillance project because of possible delays, and KZT 150 million — from the Geoportal project, since the architecture department was already carrying out similar work.
In addition, KZT 114 million was redirected from an IT systems survey to an analysis of the akimat's architecture, and a project to digitalise residential areas worth KZT 111 million was included in the Astana.kz portal. A further KZT 70 million was returned after an IT entrepreneurship development measure was cancelled, and KZT 41 million — because of a lack of open data for analysing "Smart City" indicators.
Also excluded was KZT 40 million intended for surveying schools under the "Safe School" project, which was to be delivered through a PPP.
WHAT DISCREPANCIES WERE IDENTIFIED
Auditors identified discrepancies in the digitalisation department's reporting. The agency stated 200,000 applications for utility services instead of 214,318, as well as 195 technical surveys instead of the 200 actually carried out.
The number of CCTV cameras in the report was 1,000 against the 1,200 stipulated in the contract. The Audit Commission noted incomplete and unreliable reporting of the budget programme's results.
WHAT MEASURES ARE PROVIDED FOR FOLLOWING THE AUDIT
Auditors again identified violations in planning expenditure on innovation activity development. Following the audit, 11 instances were established that could give rise to administrative liability: seven sets of materials were sent to the internal state audit department, and a further four were considered by the Audit Commission.
The digitalisation department was instructed to apply disciplinary sanctions to the employees responsible by 23 October 2026. Of the KZT 7.57 billion, about KZT 6.88 billion was returned to the budget, and KZT 695.5 million was reallocated to other expenditure. No separate fine for the ineffective planning of that sum is specified in the conclusion.
