ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday formed a special committee to look into the rules and regulations of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) with regard to grant of financial and service benefits to its (PTA) employees.
A meeting of the PAC was held here at the Parliament House under the chair of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah which reviewed audit reports of Telecommunication Sector for the years 2009-10 and 2013-14.
The meeting which was attended by lawmakers including Syed Mushahid Hussain Syed, Dr Arif Alvi, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Dr Darshan, Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Sardar Ashiq Hussain Gopang and Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho also reviewed audit reports of Ministry of Commerce for the year 2013-14 and grant paras of Ministry of Human Rights and Ministry of Commerce.
The Auditor General of Pakistan Rana Assad Amin told the committee that PTA was paying honorarium, leave encashment and house rent allowance in excess without approval of Finance Division.
He said the Authority, being an autonomous body was required to obtain prior approval from the Finance Division through the relevant Administrative Division.
The panel was told that the representative of Law Division had also opined that under Rule 12 of the Rules of Business 1973, which have over riding powers over any law stated that no Division without previous consultation with the Finance Division may authorize to issue order other than orders in pursuance of any general or special delegation made by the Finance Division, which will affect directly or indirectly the finances of the federation.
Finance Division instructions were applicable to all organizations, Semi- Autonomous/Autonomous Bodies and Corporations wholly or partly financed by the Federal Government, the Committee was informed.
The Auditor General said that the representative of the Finance Division endorsed and supported the view point of the representatives of the Law and Justice Division.
The PTA officials; however were of the view that their regulations allowed them to give honorarium and increase house rent allowance of employees.
The PAC members observed that since there were different interpretations on the issue, hence a committee should be formed to look into the matter in detail.
Upon this; PAC Chairman constituted the committee comprising lawmakers Syed Mushahid Hussain, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Dr Arif Alvi and Muhammad Pervaiz Malik.
The committee was tasked to hold its first meeting on March 16 on the issue and submit a report within one month.
The issue of closure of a cellular phone tower installed at the premises of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) also surfaced in the meeting.
The officials of PTA said that the tower closed as it was installed without following the rules and regulations.
Chairman PAC directed the PTA to allow installation of tower to PIMS management after it fulfills the set procedure.
Earlier; Chairman PAC asked the officials of Ministry Textile Industry to explain the reasons of the decision of winding up of Textile City in Karachi.
He said he would request the Federal Government not to wind up the project till the PAC gets complete briefing on the issue.
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