Use of public funds by ex-ministers: Ministry directed to hold inquiry

A parliamentary panel on Friday directed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development to conduct an inquiry on the use of public funds by its then federal and state ministers during 2008-13 over the issue of use of Rs 2.7 million discretionary funds. The subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which met here in the chair of Member National Assembly Shahida Akhtar Ali gave these directions to the secretary Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis while reviewing and discussing the audit paras of the ministry for the year 2012-13.
Audit officials briefing the panel said that during 2008-13 when Farooq Sattar was the federal minister for overseas Pakistanis, an amount of Rs 2.7 million was used by the minister and state minister under discretionary fund while the ministry didn't share the record with the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP).
Briefing the participants Muhammad Hashim Popalzai, Federal Secretary for Overseas Pakistanis, said that the ministry is trying to find the record of the used funds and apologized for the failure of the ministry over non-production of record to the committee. He said that since 2014 the ministry has not held any meeting of departmental accounts committee (DAC), adding that he will soon hold a DAC meeting and produce the record to the parliamentary body. The chairperson committee snubbed the ministry for such a long delay in DAC meeting and directed the principal accounting officer (PAO) to conduct an inquiry into the matter within 30 days and share the findings with the PAC.
Audit officials said that most of the ministries, divisions and attached departments are not arranging regular DAC meetings, adding that only Ministry of Defence is conducting regular DAC meetings while others are awaiting directions from the PAC.
The committee remarked it is the duty of every ministry and other departments to hold periodic DAC meetings as a number of audit objections can be resolved in departmental meetings. Audit officials briefing the panel on another audit objection said that 9 ministry officials visited Cyprus to help a Pakistani migrant and six of the officials didn't get approval from the federal minister which caused financial losses to national kitty. The panel directed the PAO to settle this case by getting post ex de facto approval from the present minister and such violations must be avoided in future.
Audit officials further informed the panel that in 2011-12, an estimated Rs 20 million profit was wasted by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundations (OPF) as a result of delayed deposit of funds into the bank account of Welfare Fund sent by the overseas Pakistanis. Ministry officials responded that the delay was caused due to problems with software which was fixed and since then no such issue has erupted.
The audit officials said that due to a delay in the construction of 1008 flats and 500 houses by the Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis, national kitty has faced a loss of Rs 193 million. APG officials said that instead of issuing one tender, the ministry issued three tenders for the purpose to a same contractor while the contractor also gave different rates in response to tenders which was a serious violation of the set rules and regulations.
The panel directed the ministry to conduct a departmental inquiry into the matter and share details with the committee. The panel also directed the secretary Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis to conduct departmental inquiries over misconduct and irregularities in the completion of various projects in Sindh without the approval of PC-1.
The chairperson also highlighted the problems being faced by Pakistani workers in Malaysia and other countries, especially related to low wages. She said that the ministry in consultation with counterparts in other countries must try to ensure market-based wages for the Pakistanis. She said that the government should sign agreements with the countries where Pakistani workers are exported and must set minimum wage level, as the panel has received multiple complains of low wages.