ISLAMABAD - Auditor General of Pakistan shocked a meeting of Public Accounts committee on Thursday that a sitting minister of Pakistan Railways is using as many as 50 officials vehicles including cars, jeeps and land cruisers.
“I have come to know through reliable news channel that a railway minister uses 51 official vehicles. I have directed my office to sort out the matter and submit a comprehensive report in this regard that would be presented soon before this committee,” Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) revealed during the meeting.
PAC Chairman Nadeem Afzal remarked that it was a matter of shame for the rulers using huge number of official vehicles and petrol causing losses to national kitty.
“Please investigate the matter and submit a report to PAC in this regards,” he asked the AGP.
Responding to the disclosure made by none other than the AGP, the members of PAC expressed their annoyance and vowed to summon him before the committee until AGPR completes probe of allegations leveled against him. Despite asking several times, the AGPR, however, refused to reveal the name of the minister using 50 officials vehicles, arguing that his office was still inquiring the matter.
Authorities of Ministry of Housing and works revealed before the committee that Baluchistan Constabulary had occupied a residential colony built for the employees of Blochistan government.
Taking up the complaint by the officials of Ministry of Housing and works, the committee issued summons of the Chief Secretary Blochistan and principal secretary to Prime Minister Secretariat to explain their position regarding the matter in the next hearing of PAC.
Earlier, officials of Ministry of Housing and Works told the committee that an influential officer of IB had occupied a home owned by an official of Ministry of Housing and Works Quetta by force. This prompted PAC to direct the secretary ministry to sort out the matter within 10 days.
During proceedings of PAC on Thursday, officials told PAC how influential people belonging to various political parties and government sectors had occupied government residences and petrol pumps in Karachi.
“We have proofs regarding leasing out four petrol pumps on monthly rent of Rupees 70,000. Interestingly, the pumps were given on lease by the previous government but the rent has not been recovered since the last five years,” officials told PAC.
The committee directed the ministry to ensure recovery of the rent from the defaulters on payment of rent. At the end of proceedings of PAC on Thursday, Chairman PAC directed the secretariat that a letter be written to NA speaker for seeking permission to have committee proceedings telecast live from TV.