Ministry, EOBI: FIA to investigate alleged corruption in land purchase

ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has tasked a team of the FIA under the head of the Secretary Interior to probe alleged corruption and embezzlement involved in purchase of Rs108 million worth land for the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (EOBI), and directed it to submit a report by July 16th.

The sub-committee VIII of the PAC met on Thursday on monitoring and implementation here at the parliament house.

The committee reviewed compliance on the PAC directives on 20 paras involving Rs50 million and above amount pointed by audit reports from years 2004-2005 to 2009-2010.

The committee also reviewed compliance report on the directives of sub-committee VI of the PAC meeting held on December 3rd, 2019 pertaining to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development audit report for the year 2011-2012.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq convened the meeting.

The committee also expressed displeasure over transfer of Rs20 billion from workers welfare fund to consolidated account by violation of rules and regulations of the government.

The matter has been pending since financial year 2006-2007 and the committee granted one week to resolve the issue.

The official of the Finance Division stated that the committee should refer the case to the division with recommendations to look into the possibility of transferring of money back to workers welfare account.

The division in cooperation with the AGPR would resolve the issue, he assured.

The committee also expressed serious concerns on Rs4.82 billion financial loss to the EOBI by inappropriate investment in the stock exchange.

The audit officials argued that proper procedure was not followed in investment in the capital market.

The committee directed to submit a comprehensive report within one week.

The committee further reviewed and examined the audit reports on Overseas Pakistani Foundation (OPF) housing scheme and found that Rs2.4 billion worth of contract was awarded to the FWO on single bid.

The contract was awarded without any competition, which the committee considered violation of rules.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020