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| November 01, 2006 | Wednesday | Shawwal 8, 1427 |
Several ministries termed burden
ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: National Assembly Public Accounts Committee has described one half of the federal ministries, including ministry of food and agriculture, as a burden on national exchequer and urged that these ministries be transferred to the provinces so that government can save Rs100 billion.
The committee met here on Tuesday in parliament house under the chairmanship of Riaz Fatiana.
The meeting was informed that Dr Anwar, former chairman PARC, availed himself of facilities illegally which caused a huge loss to the national exchequer. He also allowed payment of honorarium to people employed illegally. The committee took a serious notice of it and directed that the money allegedly embezzled by Mr Anwar be recovered from him.
Secretary Food and Agriculture Ismail Qureshi told that NAB had instituted a case against Mr Anwar and he was convicted and sentenced to three years term in jail. However he is still at large.
The committee directed that the property of Dr Anwar be disposed of and the looted money be recovered from him.
The committee also described the expenses incurred by Agriculture Research Council amounting to Rs44.183 million as illegal and directed the concerned quarters to produce record to the audit in this connection so that it could be ascertained under the head the amount was spent.
Mr Fatiana said that there were certain other ministries including ministry of food and agriculture if handed over to the provinces might lead to saving of over Rs1.25 billion per annum.
Secretary of food and agriculture said the ministry was running projects over Rs12 billion. The national programme costing Rs66bn on brick lining of water courses is under way. It is responsibility of provinces to ensure implementation of this programme.
The committee issued directives that feed mill Larkana be immediately handed over to private sector saying it is running into loss.
The meeting was told that an officer Dr Aziz Ahmad went abroad on behalf of PARC to attain a degree of doctorate but he continued to obtain salary and other privileges from PARC. He was dismissed from service on his return to home and the case is subjudice. The committee directed that the case be followed.
The committee also declared as illegal the subsidy allowed by the government amounting to Rs172 million to different private parties for importing wheat during 1991-92.
The committee directed that all record in this regard be verified from Habib Bank and be audited within one month.—Online
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