ISLAMABAD
Taking notice of alleged corruption in the utilisation of development funds for members of parliament, the Public Accounts Committee on Monday sought a report from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in on the matter.
The Public Accounts Committee met under Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to review audit objections to Pakistan Railways accounts and misuse of official vehicles by various government departments. The chairman of the prime minister’s inspection commission told the PAC that the commission had 14 vehicles under its control, which were being used for inspection of various projects.
“No one knows what the commission is doing,” Nisar remarked. The chairman told the PAC that the commission had inspected 10 projects last year and sent the report to the prime minister. “We don’t know what action has been taken in this respect,” he said, adding that some officials were using seven to 14 government vehicles. The Interior Ministry informed the PAC that it had 31 vehicles, NADRA 143 and Islamabad Capital Territory administration 666 vehicles.
“The interior minister has only one vehicle in his use,” the ministry official told the committee. Nisar directed the ministries to return additional vehicles or seek a formal approval for their utilisation. “If misuse of vehicles is proven after November 1, the responsibility will rest with respective secretaries,” Nisar warned.
Presenting the audit report of Pakistan Railways for 2008-09, AGP officials said 15,699 acres of 39,132 acres of railways land were being used effectively, while the remaining had been encroached upon by the land grabbing mafia. The PAC chairman formed a four-member special committee under Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to present a report on the matter by November 30.
