WASHINGTON: As much as $60 billion in US tax dollars has been lost to waste and fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade due to lax oversight of contractors , poor planning and corruption , according to an independent panel.

In its final report to Congress to be publicly released on Wednesday, the commission on wartime contracting said the losses could grow as US support for reconstruction projects and programs wanes, leaving Iraq and Afghanistan to bear the longterm costs of sustaining the schools, medical clinics, barracks , roads and power plants already built with American money.

Government agencies should overhaul the way they award and manage contracts in war zones so they don't repeat the mistakes made in Iraq and Afghanistan , the commission said.

Among the report's 15 recommendations are the creation of an inspector general to monitor contracting during contingency operations and the appointment of a senior government official to improve the planning and coordination.