KARACHI: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly on Monday lambasted state-run universities over the manner in which their expense logs were maintained, and ordered an inquiry into the expenses made without record.
Reviewing audit reports of four universities – NED University of Engineering and Technology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology and Agriculture University – PAC Chairman Jam Tamachi and other members of the committee expressed their displeasure over the financial state of affairs of the public universities. On Monday, the committee deferred 15 paras of the audit conducted for 2006-07 and 2008-09, but settled the remaining. The PAC was informed that the universities had recovered Rs 11.5 million under directives given to them earlier.
The amount was outstanding to employees on account of advance payments, income tax etc. The PAC expressed its dissatisfaction over the manner in which the discretionary powers of the syndicate and vice-chancellor were being carried out, specifically in reference with utilising budgeted amounts on other accounts.
Tamachi observed that while universities were saddled with financial constraints, syndicates should not have powers to violate prescribed rules. He said that they can utilise allotted funds in difficult situations, but this provision should not be abused. “It is common practice in our country that powers are misused,” he remarked.
