ISLAMABAD: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday expressed displeasure over delay in completion of new Islamabad airport and directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to brief the committee about reasons behind delay and escalation in cost.
The meeting was chaired by the opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah.
The chairman noted with great concern that the original cost of the project was Rs. 37 billion which has now reached Rs 95 billion due to mismanagement.
Member of National Assembly and PAC member Mahmood Khan Achakzai said, "this is our country and we have to take care of it. It is our responsibility to utilize the resources with care and people responsible for wasting the funds should be punished."
Secretary Aviation and Chairman Civil Aviation Authority Board Muhammad Ali Gardezi informed the committee that the new Airport will be completed by 2016 while first deadline of the project was December 2011.
The secretary said work had not yet started for the construction of the access road to the airport while provision of water is also an issue as the area had water scarcity.
He said CAA had asked FIA to conduct criminal inquiry to fix the responsibility for any irregularities in the project.
The secretary said CAA has adequate funds for the construction of the airport. He said the work has not been completed on given time due to incompetence of consultant.
The people deployed by the consultant on the project were unqualified and were not capable to handle Rs 100 billion project. Quality of the control tower was also not as per international standard, he added.
Khurshid Shah also directed the CAA secretary to share enquiry report submitted to Supreme Court with PAC and AGPR.
While discussing the Audit Report of Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development(National Centre of Rural Development), PAC settled audit paras worth Rs 2.941 million.
The PAC also directed all the departments to cooperate with AGPR and provide all the required documents to it.
The PAC also directed the Cabinet Division to furnish the detail of various projects being used by the government officials within two weeks.
The committee noted with concern that the government officials were drawing Rs 80000 per month for fuel and also using official vehicles for their personal use in the name of projects.
PAC directed to conduct an inquiry into the fire incident at Shahid-e-Millat Secretariat Islamabad where most of the official record was destroyed.
While discussing the audit report of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, PAC settled the audit objections of Rs 3,782,153 and Rs 210,659,887.
The PAC also referred a case to NAB in which PSO signed an agreement with M/s Gilani Traders to obtain plot measuring 19800 sq meter in Kemari oil installation area, and make advance payment of Rs three million to the party while the plot was not on the ground.
An official of Petroleum informed the committee that the ministry has earned Rs. 223 billion revenue during 2013-14.
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