KARACHI – Though the incumbent Sindh government is bemoaning its worst-ever financial crisis, at least Rs 6 millions are set to be spent on the purchase of a new video conferencing system for the World Bank-assisted Sindh Cities Improvement Programme, Pakistan Today has learnt. The expenditure, however, is not needed: the parent department of the Sindh Cities Improvement Programme – the Planning & Development (P&D) Department – is in possession of three sophisticated video conferencing systems that were purchased by former Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Nazar Hussain Mahar. “Each of these systems was bought for about Rs20 million,” sources told Pakistan Today. “One was installed at the Sindh Cities Improvement Programme’s headquarters at the Sindh Secretariat in Karachi, and one each at the regional offices in Hyderabad and Sukkur.”
When the video conferencing systems were installed, high speed internet connections were also set up to facilitate officials. “The government is still paying Rs 80,000 in internet charges every month, but officials of the P&D Department utilise the system merely once or twice in a year,” sources said. In February 2011, the programme support unit of the Sindh Cities Improvement Programme invited tenders for the purchase of another video conferencing system. Sources explained that the new video conferencing equipment would incur an extra burden of Rs 6 million extra on the provincial exchequer.
Sources alleged that the staff of the programme support unit was misusing public money on unnecessary expenditures, given how the old system is not even being used. “The video conferencing system bought earlier is now covered in dust in a room on the second floor of Tughlaq House. Not only do they want to spend money on a new system, but substantial amounts are also being lost in the internet provider’s bills,” sources said, adding that millions of rupees could be saved from being misused if officials budgeted for their needs honestly.
