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| January 17, 2006 | Tuesday | Zilhaj 16, 1426 |
Minister’s absence annoys senators
ISLAMABAD, Jan 16: The Senate Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Special Education on Monday expressed its disappointment over the absence of the minister for Social Welfare and Special Education. It said that the date was fixed with the consent of the minister.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Mrs Nighat Agha, was called to discuss the Tawana Pakistan Project (TPP) with reference to a press report in an English daily.
Secretary Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education informed the committee about the factual position and stated that the project was approved in a meeting of the Ecnec on September 2, 2002, which aimed at providing daily meal and micro-nutrients to primary school girls in 29 high poverty stricken districts of four provinces, Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that on the instruction of former Additional Secretary (Incharge) of the Ministry a special audit of the project for the year 2002-2003 was conducted by DG Audit. The DG pointed out 18 audit observations, which were sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
He said that the NAB asked for final report with findings as the irregularities reported were based on preliminary audit report.
He told the members of the committee that the matter was now under consideration of the Public Accounts Committee and the final report would be sent to the NAB.
He stated that all the measures taken during the implementations of the project were approved by the Ecnec and that all were in accordance with PC-1 of the project.
On the current status of the TPP, the Secretary informed that whole matter was discussed at length by the National Steering Committee, which has recommended a Third Party Evaluation (TPE) of the project.
He said that TPE was being conducted to assess the actual performance of the TPP as per the provision laid down by Ecnec in the PC-1.
The committee was of the view to listen to the view point of the then minister and secretary of the then ministry of women development, social welfare and special education to know the exact position of the issue and its amicable solution. The committee also directed the ministry to provide information about the schools, which actually non-operative (ghost schools) in various parts of the country, which have benefited from this project.
The members raised various pertinent questions on the project and decided to discuss it in the presence of the minister and directed the secretary to provide written replies as soon as possible.
The meeting was attended, besides the chairperson of the committee, senator Dr Mrs Nighat Agha by Senators Farhatullah Babar, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Mrs. Tanveer Khalid, Shuja-ul-Mulk, Ms Saadia Abbasi and Muhammad Enver Baig. Secretary ministry of social welfare and special education and senior officers of the ministry were also present in the meeting.
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