January 04, 2009	Sunday	Muharram 06, 1430

MANSEHRA, Jan 3: The committee of Senate on Problems of Less Developed Areas will probe embezzlement of millions of rupees in the relief and rehabilitation and reconstruction funds by the governmental and non-governmental organisations.

“The world community generously donated for the survivors of October 8, 2005 earthquake and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure but some government departments and non-governmental organisations allegedly misappropriated it.

The committee would bring to justice the individuals and

organisations involved in misappropriation of relief funds,” said a member of Senate committee.

Senator Mir Wali Mohammad Badani, chairman and member of the committee, along with its members senators Azam Khan Swati, Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Amjad Abbas, Syed Dilawar Abbas, Mohammad Khan Jamali, Mohammad Ghufran and others visited Hazara University on Saturday and inspected developmental projects.

Speaking on the occasion Senator Azam Khan Swati said that he had taken the initiatives and launched inquiry in the embezzlement of funds meant for the rehabilitation of survivors and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure.

“Those involved in the corruption and embezzlement of the funds would be brought to justice and no body would be spared,” he added.

He said that Hazara University was a great institution of the area and all conspiracies against it and its staff would be foiled for the betterment of the people of the region and their children.

He promised to give all out support for the university and vowed to plead its case in the corridors of power in the centre as well as in the province.

Senator Mir Wali assured the staff members that he as chairman of the committee would take part in the negotiations with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to address the problems of the university and issue more funds to it.

He said that he was expressed by the development of the university following the October 8, 2005 earthquake.

The committee was briefed by Dr Mukhtar Alam, director research and Planning, about the ongoing projects in the university.

He said that the university had about 5,000 students, 1,000 supporting staff members and about 300 faculty members.

Vice-chancellor Dr Saeed Anwar thanked the members of the Senate committee for their visit to the university.