QUETTA, May 7: The ad hoc public accounts committee (PAC) has found gross irregularities in the accounts of the education department, and has directed the authorities concerned to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

The committee detected these irregularities while reviewing the accounts of the department for the year 1997-98 at its meeting held here on Monday. The minister for planning and development and chairman of the committee, Malik Naeem Ahmed, took the chair.

The PAC took serious notice of the irregularities and directed officials of the education department to prepare an inquiry report and submit the report at its next meeting.

Reviewing the accounts of the Balochistan Text Book Board, it expressed concern over the irregularities in a medical allowances and honorarium case, and directed the authorities concerned to take up the issue at a high-level meeting of the board and revise the allowances.