July 6, 2002	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 24,1423

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ISLAMABAD, July 5: The meeting called by science and technology minister to resolve differences between the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Pakistan Association of Software Houses (Pasha) remained inconclusive on Friday.

Pasha President Hamza Matin, in a hurriedly-called news conference on Friday evening, expressed dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the ministry of science and technology to check the alleged corruption and abuse of power in the software export board.

He said the ministry was reluctant to take any action on the special audit by the Auditor General’s office which, he said, had unearthed corruption of millions of rupees in the board.

The software industry, Mr Matin said, had been raising the issue with the minister for science and technology for many weeks, but to no avail.

“We are left with no option, but either to approach the law courts or seek intervention of President Musharraf in the matter,” he said.

In the meanwhile, sources at the ministry said Minister Dr Atta-ur-Rehman had convened the meeting to discuss the contentious issues raised by Pasha.

PSEB Managing Director Suhail Shahid, adviser to minister on IT Salman Ansari and senior officials of the ministry attended the meeting, officials said.

Senior officials said the audit report had been received and Mr Shahid was asked to respond to the irregularities pointed out in the special audit report.

The ministry would take appropriate and necessary action only when the replies of PSEB managing director were received, officials said.