–PAC chairman tasks committee secy to provide sealed copies of NAB reports on different projects
–AGP briefs committee meeting on audit reports of various development schemes
ISLAMABAD: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Shehbaz Sharif on Monday decided to put a briefing from the National Accountancy Bureau (NAB) in limbo and seek one each from the energy and water resources ministries instead.
As per the details, Shehbaz had earlier directed NAB to brief him on the 168 cases lying pending with the bureau on Tuesday, however, he deferred his decision and tasked the committee secretary to provide sealed copies of NAB reports on the new Islamabad airport, Grand Hayat Hotel and Pakistan Super League (PSL).
According to a statement issued here, the PAC chairman will now be briefed on dams’ construction projects and rental power plants by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Energy, respectively.
Earlier, the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) told Shehbaz that the audit reports of various development projects, including the Multan, Rawalpindi and Lahore Metro Buses, the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had been completed.
“The audit reports will be presented in February 2019,” the AGP told a meeting of the PAC presided by Shehbaz.
The AGP also briefed the committee regarding the audit of Islamabad international airport, Royal Palm Golf and Country Club and Grand Hayat Hotel. “The lease was granted for 33 years but remained for 49 years and its jurisdiction was expended from 103 acres to 140 acres.”
He said over Rs68.911 billion was spent on the construction of the Islamabad airport
The Grand Hayat Hotel, spread over 13.45-acre land was given on lease for Rs4.882 billion, the AGP said and added that the hotel authority had designed the structure without seeking permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
“Due to changes in the dollar rate, losses to the tune of Rs248.72 million were inflicted to the national exchequer.”
The PAC meeting was also briefed on the procedure of audit, budget, employees and its achievements.
