June 17, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1424

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FAISALABAD, June 16: The Local Fund Audit branch of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (City) has detected massive irregularities, appropriation of funds, maladministration and gross violation of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2001, in running the TMA affairs.

The LFA’s resident assistant director in his official report asked the local government authorities and other functionaries concerned to put a complete check on irregularities and launch clean-up operation for streamlining the TMA affairs.

The evils cropped up could only be eradicated by strict adherence to rules and regulations and proceedings. Officials at the helm of affairs should be made accountable to ensure transparency, otherwise the abuse of power would lead to chaos and anarchy in this institution.

The audit report pertaining to the period from July 1, 2002, to Dec 31, 2002, found serious irregularities in accounts, preparation of budget, advances to employees, utilization of funds in different accounts, and complete mess and financial anarchy in almost all branches of the TMA.

The audit team found that a sum of Rs24.17 million were released to the district government on account of staff salary of Education and Health departments which were transferred to the district government under the new set up with effect from July 1, 2002.

Although there was no budget provision for the payment of salary to such staff after June 30, 2002, the payment was released on the surety given by the district government that the amount would be refunded in due course, which is still awaited.

This huge irregular released amount has disturbed the entire budget. The building plans are approved without taking into account its technical aspects as maps are not routed through the chief engineer and tehsil officer (I&S). As many as 10,000 challans against construction of buildings are lying unattended with the Law branch.

The TMA is maintaining various gardens, parks, nurseries on open spaces which provide entertainment to the citizens of Faisalabad. The entire affairs relating to gardens are being supervized by an unqualified man. Whereas, according to rules, a horticulture qualified person should have been appointed as the garden superintendent.

The report further observes that it is the entire responsibility of the Engineering Branch to carry out its function like repairs of fountains, development of parks, repair of vehicles, cutting of trees, maintenance of roads, streetlights, repairs of buildings etc. Amazingly, it has been noted that almost all these function are being performed by the Horticulture Branch without any visible reason except development of roads.

As per report, presently a huge amount of Rs1.37 billion is outstanding against certain employees and other agencies as temporary advances were given for performing specific assignments on behalf of the TMA.

The major portion of the amount was advanced to the NLC and FWO for rehabilitation of roads while remaining amount stands against Wapda, Wasa, and other employees of the TMA. Alarmed by the situation, the government has imposed a complete ban on the issuance of temporary advances to any employee or agency.

The audit team found violation of rules and financial irregularities especially like building branch, tax branch, taxi taxes, immovable property tax, bakkar mandi fee, advertisement tax, dangerous offensive trade, wheel tax, engineering branch, streetlights, temporary advances, store branch, law branch, general branch, garden branch, renting out of parks, accounts branch and municipal courts.

The audit report reveals poor state of affairs on the side of financial matters in particular and in other administrative matters in general.

Irregularities of serious nature have been committed mainly because of the lack of judicious application of mind to rules and regulations and other set of procedures by officials in their respective field of working. Expenditures are being lavishly spent without effective financial restraints and without exercising planning and concern for priorities.

On receipt side, things are all the more deplorable. No check is being exercised by the responsible officer to ensure that the income derived through various taxes and other sources are collected according to prescribed rates and deposited in the TMA funds safely. This grossly imbalance working only emphasize the fact that all is not well. An in-depth analysis of whole affair, if conducted by detail audit, will unearth startling revelations like embezzlement, misappropriation and loss of funds.

Millions of rupees have been allowed to drift in arrears for no plausible reasons. Temporary advances are issued to officers without necessary adjustment of the amounts already standing against them which is tantamount to misappropriation of TMA funds.

Lease money deduction in the income tax has not been effected in certain contracts and leases. Income generating projects like Canal Park and General Bus Stand have been left at the mercy of officers. No binding clause is included in the agreements while leasing out various contracts. Irregular appointments have been made despite a complete ban imposed by the government. Similarly, judicial cases are not promptly pursued in courts and most of these cases are decided in favour of other parties, causing huge financial losses, the report adds.

Insiders said that City Nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema had invited tenders of several uplift schemes in different areas of NA-83 from where his brother Mushtaq Ali Cheema was the candidate on a PML-QA ticket.

The City Nazim spent official resources lavishly for the election campaign of his brother by violating all rules and regulations.

The TMA spent Rs170 million on pavement of streets, construction of roads, sewerage and water supply schemes without fulfilling the codic requirements during the election campaign.

The matter of using official funds came to light when the City Nazim asked the Tehsil Municipal Officer to adjust this huge amount in the next financial budget of the TMA. The TMO not only refused to do so but also informed the Local Government secretary and other authorities concerned.

At present, the TMA officials were giving final touches to the TMA’s budget and were making all out efforts to adjust this amount, a source disclosed.