Expressing surprise that over 20 provincial Food Department officers continue to enjoy lucrative posts despite involvement in irregularities of over Rs 70 million, the Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday recommended that action should be taken against the officers by the authorities concerned.
The matter had come under discussion during the PAC meeting – chaired by PAC Chairman Jam Tamachi Unnar – to discuss audit reports of the Food Department accounts of years 2006-07 to 2008-09.
It was disclosed at the meeting that around 20 to 25 officers found guilty three years ago of financial irregularities on account of distributing bardano (wheat bags) among wheat growers, procurement of wheat and its transportation were still working on the same posts.
Speaking on the occasion, Unnar said that serious irregularities were found on account of distribution of gunny bags, procurement and transportation of wheat by the food officers.
“It is common perception that Food Department’s officials have become rich due to corrupt practices. Those who had bicycles now possess Land Cruisers,” he remarked.
Unnar said the officers involved in financial irregularities should be suspended instead of being given postings in the department, adding that complaints are common about shortage of bardano during the current season, when the growers need more due to a bumper wheat crop in the province.
Sindh Food Secretary Muhammad Naseer Jamali told the PAC members that the officers had returned an amount of Rs 10 million during the period; however, the remaining amount has to be recovered by the department.
“The accused officers were allowed to continue on their posts on condition that they would return the remaining amount in installments”, he added.
Expressing their anger on allowing the officers to continue on their positions, the PAC members directed the Sindh Assembly’s staff to send a letter to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, recommending immediate removal of the Food Department officers. The department’s head was also directed to take action against these officers instead of allowing them to continue on their positions.
The PAC chairman, meanwhile, directed the department’s secretary to inform the concerned minister about the PAC’s recommendation.
Some 38 audit points pertaining to accounts of the Food Department were discussed at the meeting but only six of them were settled because of unsatisfactory responses of the officers concerned. The remaining 32 audit paras were deferred for the next meeting.
