PAC angry at SAFRON for refusing audit

ISLAMABAD – The Special Committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday took a strict notice of the reply submitted by the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) in response to a special audit of the goods being used by the ministry.
Auditors apprised the PAC Special Committee that SAFRON, in response to directions for special audit of the goods and vehicles donated by foreign donors, had said in black and white that the ministry was not duty-bound to hold audit of the said items by Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP).
The committee asked the auditors to convey to the officials concerned to appear before committee in its next meeting.
The committee met under the convenorship of Zahid Hamid to review the audit objections about the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Commerce, Food and Agriculture, Social Welfare and Special Education.
During the course of proceedings, Federal Audit DG Gulzar Hussnain told the committee that SAFRON Joint Secretary Dr Imran Zeb Khan had informed audit officials that the ministry was not bound to get vehicles and goods donated by international donors audited by AGP, because these goods were not procured by government funds. The committee then directed the SAFRON Ministry to come before the PAC well prepared on the said subject in its next meeting.