ISLAMABAD - Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has exposed Rs 23.5 billion irregularities in Defence Ministry in the face of non-payment of PTV license fee, constructions of Troops Family Welfare Centre and Mangla Garrison, and other issues. Audit Report 2005-06 with 40 objection paras of Defence Ministry was presented in the PAC meeting held at Parliament House on Monday. Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly and Chairman PAC Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan presided over the meeting. The PAC revealed that Pakistan Army personnel had not been paying PTV license fee, Rs 25 per month in electricity bill, since the time of its implementation. It directed authorities concerned to collect PTV license fee from Pakistan Army personnel right from January 01, 2009. Ch Nisar said it was wastage of public money and the looted amount would be recovered, adding both Army personnel and civilians should follow the rules and regulations for the dignity of the country. Objection paras, worth Rs 116.8 million, were discussed in the meeting while remaining paras would be discussed today (Tuesday). There are 40 objection paras of Audit Report 2005-06 and the PAC Chairman has sought reports of most of the paras within one month. The Audit official told the meeting that Wapda was not recovering PTV license fee Rs 25 in the electricity bill from military men. Defence Secretary Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Athar Ali told the meeting that Pak Army personnel had not been paying PTV license fee but now from January 01, 2009 onward they would pay the fee. He said that the previous dues should be written off. He further said that there was a 50 per cent discount in power tariff for Pakistan Army personnel. Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that PTV license fee should be levied on military officers and not on Jawans. Yasmeen Rehman said it was very serious negligence and law should be equal for all in the country. Hamid Yar Hiraj said that according to Constitution all citizen had equal right and law should be same for all. The Chairman PAC said that proposals should be presented within a month to amend the law if it was needed. He was of the view that some elements in Pakistan Army were tarnishing its image. Auditor General Rana Tanvir Ali Agha proposed to hold a separate meeting with Defence Ministry in that regard to take up this issue. He said that a total of Rs 1.3 million dues were payable under the head of PTV license fee from military and suggested to write it off. About another objection para, the Auditor told that Defence Ministry wasted Rs 1.497 million in unauthorised expenditure on the construction of Troops Family Welfare Centre out of defence budget. He said that rules and regulations were violated in the construction of Mangla Garrison that was divided into two sections and due to this Pakistan Army had to bear financial loss. The committee also sought explanation from Defence Ministry over non-recovering of dues worth of Rs 3 million from contractor of Army Garrison Chonia and defaulters of Mangla Garrison within two weeks.