May 20, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 19: A federal minister in a clear violation of prime minister’s directive about use of under 1600cc staff car has forced the Pakistan Baitul Maal to attach its four 1300 to 3,000cc vehicles to his personal pool.

While announcing austerity measures, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had in his 100-day programme put the limit of 1600cc staff cars for the use of his cabinet ministers.

However, almost all the ministers have more than one vehicles of higher than 1600cc power in their possession and many of them have done so illegally by using their administrative muscle.

According to sources, minister for social welfare and special education Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, after being politely declined by the managing director PBM, got the vehicles attached to his personal pool through a letter issued by secretary social welfare G.M. Sikandar on April 14.

The minister was informed by the officials concerned that the assets of the institution being a national trust, which provided charity funds for medical, educational and other social services to the people from the lowest strata of society, cannot be used for any other purpose or by departments under the PBM Act.

The minister, however, ignored the rules and ordered the secretary to get those vehicles from the institution by issuing an official letter. It is not clear whether the secretary had any legal grounds to write the letter.

As a result, the minister is now using a 2008 model 3000cc Toyota Land Cruiser (GK 908) and a Suzuki Baleno 1999 model; while a 2006 model 2000cc Kia sport-age (GF-092) is used by his kin. A Toyota double cabin with yellow number plate (UN gifted) 1999 model of 2800cc is under the use of his staff.

The maintenance, drivers and fuel for these vehicles are also to be obtained from the PBM, the sources said.

Interestingly, apart from these attached vehicles, the minister also enjoys services of a good number of other vehicles from the cabinet pool and the ministry.