ISLAMABAD: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) here on Thursday expressing concern over irregular awarding of contract for purchase 43 fire fighting vehicles transferred the case to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from FIA, and asked it to present its report within three months.
PAC meeting was held under the chairmanship of Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, including members Dr Azra Afzal Pechuho, Syed Naveed Qamar, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Mian Abdul Manan, Sahibzada Nazeer Sultan, Raja Javaid Ikhlas, Sheikh Roheel Asghar, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Mehmood Khan Achakzei, Sardar Aashiq Gopang, Muhammad Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry and discussed the Audit Paras of the Aviation Division (Civil Aviation Authority) for the year 2010-11.
The PAC was told by the audit officials that Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) purchased 24 Airport Rescue Fire Fighting Vehicles, valuing Rs 1,367.65 million and 19 vehicles valuing Rs 1,240.39 million (including foreign exchange component of 11.57 million US Dollars) through direct contracting instead of open competition without approval of PC-II and PC-I.
Secretary Aviation Division Ali Muhammad Gardezi informed the committee that CAA purchased 24 vehicles in which irregularities took place, after which a departmental inquiry was conducted to probe the matter and case was also referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). He said that due to involvement of some high officials no action was taken against people involved in embezzlement while response from the FIA was still awaited.
The committee expressed annoyance over regular absence of FIA official in the meeting and directed to issue Show Cause notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and asked to call DG FIA in person for reply in next meeting.
The Chairman PAC said that the nation faced Rs 3 billion loss to the national exchequer due to negligence in purchase of 24 vehicles. Moreover the approval of ECNEC was also not obtained and after a long period of 8 years no action was taken against the people involved in procurement.
The PAC also sought reply from CAA regarding irregular award of licence agreements amounting to Rs 2,184.75 million and directed to present detailed report of inquiry in next meeting.
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