The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly, expressing anger on the irresponsive behavior of the varsity official, has grilled Vice Chancellor Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) for not getting verified the expenditures of millions of rupees with the auditory officials.
The PAC meeting was held at the Committee Room 1 of the Sindh Assembly that was presided over by Sardar Jam Tamachi on Tuesday. PAC members MPA Mujadid Isran, Shoaib Ibrahim also attended the meeting.
The committee reviewed draft paras of fiscal years 2005-06, 2006-07and 2007-08, of SALU Khairpur that was represented by VC Neelofar Shaikh.
The committee deferred para 17.1, titled “expenditure without inviting open tender Rs 0.425 million” in which it was stated that: it was observed that an expenditure of Rs 0.425 million was incurred on purchase of machinery/equipments and printing charges without inviting open tenders.
At this the auditors recommended that accounting system may be strengthened to improve financial management in the institution and competent authority may be approached to regularize the irregularity.
Jam Tamachi expressed anger over Dr Neelofar Shaikh as she could not persuade the committee members despite furnishing many reasons.
The para no-17.8 was also deferred by that pointed out the doubtful payment on account of purchase of generator and vehicle amounting to Rs 1.974 million.
In the last meting, PAC had directed the concerned authorities to provide the record to audit team but the officials of University had not followed these directives, audit report revealed. The PAC deferred the para no-17.5, of SALU as well and asked the Vice Chancellor for settling of deferred paras as soon as possible.
The PAC also reviewed the deferred paras of FY 2006-2007, of University of Karachi. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Kaiser was available in the meeting to explain the paras. It reviewed the 5 paras and settled all while convincing by the Dr Mohammad Kaiser.
PAC reviewed only two paras of Sukkur Institute of Business Administration (IBA) and settled both while convincing by the Nisar Siddqui Director of institution.
Tamachi said that SALU is only university of interior Sindh so the deferred paras are very simple which should be settled as well. And, he called Dr Neelofar Shaikh in the meeting and directed the audit team available during the meeting, to settle the deferred paras of SALU.
He said that SALU was the only institute of higher education in interior Sindh and it has powerful forums, like Senate and Syndicate, for the approval of all kind of decisions.
Sindh Education Department promoting education without discrimination: The Sindh Education Department, under the leadership of the Senior Minister Pir Mazhar ul Haq, is actively engaged in the promotion of education in the province without any discrimination.
This was pointed out by the spokesman of the Department here on Wednesday. He was of the view that the performance of the Department for the last four years speaks for itself.
It was pointed out that the endowment fund set up by the Government of Sindh is being utilised for the students without any distinction. As many as 1,400 students from 23 educational institutions are benefitting from this facility.
The spokesman of the Department strongly denied that this fund is being utilised for the benefit of a particular section.
