LAHORE - The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee Chairman Syed Khurshid Shah can take note of the occupation of 4,000 acres of Federal Board of Revenue’s Hawke’s Bay land in Karachi, as the PAC head has power to take suo moto actions for effective role in accountability.
The central chairman of the Federal Revenue Alliance Employees Union Mian Abdul Qayyum has appreciated the leader of opposition for playing active role in accountability of the ministries, divisions and departments and added that PAC in the past had taken several suo-moto actions on different issues of public importance such as increase in price-hike of gas & electricity, corruption in EOBI and encroachment of KPT land.
He said that the land in Hawke’s Bay had been allotted to the then Central Board of Revenue soon after partition, but due to carelessness of the authorities concerned the property was occupied by land grabbers.
He said after retrieval the land could be utilised to set up a housing colony with medical and educational institutions for FBR employees who did not have proper residential facilities yet.
Its good omen for the whole nation and particularly for workers that leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Khurshid Shah was appointed chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
He expressed hope that like in the past, Khurshid Shah, being a head of a powerful body which examines the spending of national exchequer, will also ensure transparency and accountability in future.
Mian Qayyum recalled that FBR Union is always appreciative for former Federal Minister Khurshid Shah for accepting the longstanding demand of the union when he was in power to upgrade Customs department Appraisers, Examiners and Preventive officers along with income tax inspectors. Due to his efforts, up-gradation of about 1,000 Customs officials and 1,300 inspectors of Inland Revenue Services were possible in past, he added.
Mian Qayyum said that the workers have also attached their hopes with the present government that it would also fulfil other longstanding demand of the union. He said that the authorities should utilise best abilities to facilitate the employees who are collecting revenues for the government despite all odds.