A National Assembly panel headed by Asad Umar is to quiz top brass of Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI&P) on Monday (today) for procurement and transportation of sugar at `exorbitant'' rates as well as the appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Furniture Pakistan-who allegedly grabbed the position with the backing of defecto Minister for Industries, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
Ministry of Industries and Production along with its attached organisations/ departments is being controlled by defecto Minister and Rizwan Bhatti--a close friend of a top bureaucrat in the Ministry. Rizwan Bhatti is tipped as new Manager Director, Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
"A panel comprising three names has been sent to Prime Minister; however, Rizwan Bhatti will be appointed MD USC as Minister and defecto Minister have given their accent to his name," the sources added.
The issue of sugar procurement and transportation has been in the media for the last couple of months. Ministry of Industries recently informed the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet that USC had floated a tender for procurement of 50''000 tons of sugar on ex-mill rates. Apart from wide publicity, letters were sent to all sugar mills to participate in bidding. Bids were opened on May 13, 2015. A total of nine mills participated. The lowest rates were received at Rs 59.5 per kg further reduced by vendors to Rs 58.50 per kg ex-mills rates.
According to analysts, apparently it appears USC procured sugar on bargaining which is against the PPRA rules. This exercise was done at a time when acting charge of MD USC was with the incumbent Secretary Industries. The incumbent acting MD USC had denied his involvement in sugar procurement process in Ramazan. A rate of Rs 2 million has allegedly been fixed for regularisation of different products in the USC; sources said adding that concerned senior officials of the Ministry are pressurised to approve the recommended paragraphs.
Some officials who are not even entitled to use official cars, got cars from attached departments. Recently, one Section Officer was transferred merely for giving 10 litre petrol to a close official to the Minister instead of 20 litre per day. The official is using car of scandalous AHAN- another company of Industries Ministry. The appointment of new CEO Furniture Pakistan is also a central point of discussion in the corridors of Ministry of Industries and Production. The Ministry has received a bundle of documents and CDs about alleged wrongdoing in Furniture Pakistan when the newly appointed CEO was having acting charge. Former Company Secretary/ GM (Finance) who provided purported evidence to different individuals has recently been arrested.
The National Assembly panel will review Furniture Pakistan Company on the basis of documents which were also provided to some of the panel members.
Insiders also claim that Pakistan Industrial Development Company (PIDC) which extends financial support of sub companies has initiated inquiry into the affairs of Furniture Pakistan. PIDC will submit inquiry report to Ministry of Industries.