ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday sought details of the ministers and parliamentarians who availed accommodation in the Federal Lodges but did not pay rent and other service charges which cost the national exchequer Rs4.8 million.

As per audit objection, the Public Works Department (PWD) failed to recover dues from various occupants of the lodges.

The PWD director-general informed the committee that a list of defaulting parliamentarians had been sent to the National Assembly and Senate Secretariat but to no avail. He said before the general elections few defaulters deposited their dues to avoid disqualification.

According to the PWD, Rs6 million has so far been recovered from the defaulters.

The audit authorities suggested that the PAC should direct the federal secretary to recover the balance amount from parliamentarians and get the recovered amount verified from the audit officials.

The committee, headed by Shahida Akhtar Ali, directed the PWD director-general to submit details of the defaulters on the next date of meeting.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2015

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