THIS is apropos the ongoing tussle between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Auditor-General (AGP). The AG is alleged to be drawing pay and perks more than his lawful entitlement. He is allegedly using government transport while availing himself of monetisation for the same.

Whoever introduced provision of monetisation in lieu of government transport should have known that it would not work in our system. Corruption has permeated so deep and wide in our society that misuse of government resources such as transport is no more considered wrong. Almost all ministries lord over certain autonomous corporations and departments.

Manpower and resources, including transport of these corporations, are at the beck and call of senior bureaucrats of ministries. It is common knowledge that most, if not all, senior bureaucrats who avail themselves of monetisation continue to use government transport provided by subordinate corporations and departments.

In a country plagued by huge financial bungling and scandals, misuse of manpower and resources such as transport is at worst considered a minor impropriety not worth taking cognizance.

The AGP has earned PAC’s ire for refusing to appear before them. Otherwise, the issue of the Auditor-General drawing pay and perks higher than his entitlement has been in the news for quite some time. However, better late than never.

Now that the PAC has so openly committed itself to take the AG to task for the alleged wrongdoing, it must not capitulate under any pressure. The PAC should also peek into other ministries and government departments for similar improprieties and irregularities.

Mohammad Samiullah
Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014