ISLAMABAD - Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recovered Rs119 billion from different government entities during the last three years.

Auditor General of Pakistan Rana Asad Amin yesterday informed the PAC committee held under the chairmanship of Syed Khursheed Shah.

Amin was of the view that more money could be recovered from different organizations if the government gives more powers to both PAC and AGP.

Reviewing the audit objections related to the Cabinet Division, the committee once again reviewed the matter regarding five-star Grand Hayat Hotel.

The audit official informed that former CDA’s chairman Kamran Lashari had allotted the plot for the construction of Grand Hayat Hotel on a very low price in former President Pervaiz Musharaf’s era in the federal capital.

The PAC was informed that Lashari and then board of directors Brig. ® Asad, Brig ® Bukhari, Brig ® Nasar Ullah, Dr Faisal Awan, Mumtaz Ali Bhatii and Farhat Ullah had violated the rules and regulations for the bidding process for the land of under construction hotel in Islamabad.

The Committee Chairman came down hard on Director General Estate Management CDA Islam Shah for giving a false statement and misleading the committee.

The other committee members demanded action against the CDA officials for giving incorrect information in the meeting, which wasted the time.

It was also discussed that civil judges issues stay orders on this matter for long time.

The PAC members said that there was a need to amend rules and power to bring back the plundered money from looters. “PAC needs to eradicate corruption with unity,” they added.

It was also discussed to take up all these serious matters in ‘Council of the Common Trust’.

A senior PAC member said the committee could be strengthened by empowering the parliament of the country.