ISLAMABAD, June 23: After facing problems in implementing the monetisation of transport policy, the Cabinet Division has asked Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to direct ministries and divisions for furnishing compliance reports in this regard on quarterly basis.

The Cabinet Division in the recent PAC meeting said that efforts were needed to prevent the continuing misuse of general duty vehicles even after the implementation of monetisation and a written request in this regard was made by Secretary Cabinet Division, Nargis Sethi.

The request read out that basic objective of the monetisation framed on the recommendations of the Finance Division was to eliminate misuse of the official vehicles by the bureaucracy.

Under the policy, the officers of Grade 20 and above were allowed to purchase their allotted official vehicles from the government at much lower than market price and were to get a monthly car monetisation allowance ranging from Rs65, 960 to Rs95, 910 on account of fuel and maintenance.

The papers said that 529 vehicles ranging between 1000 cc and 1300 cc had been monetised by various ministries and division and only 80 vehicles so far had been surrendered.

The papers also highlighted that majority of the officials were continuously using general duty vehicles instead of those allotted to them by the government.

“However, principal accounting officer of each ministry and division responsible for ensuring proper use of vehicles has not submitted quarterly compliance report,” the papers claimed.

“None of the ministry has submitted its report during the period January – June 2012 despite the fact it was clearly mentioned in the policy,” the papers said and added, “the submission of compliance report by each ministry and division is considered critical to ensure that monetisation policy is being implemented in letter and spirit by keeping maintenance expenditure of general duty vehicles to minimum level as well as to avoid their misuse.”

Under the policy the principal accounting officer of each ministry was responsible for strict observance of the policy and was directed to obtain a certificate from each entitled officer that they were not in possession of any project, department operational, general duty and organisation vehicle.

However six ministries were yet to furnish the requisite certificates to surrender the vehicles.

Opinion

Editorial

Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.
Missing links
Updated 27 Apr, 2024

Missing links

As the past decades have shown, the country has not been made more secure by ‘disappearing’ people suspected of wrongdoing.
Freedom to report?
27 Apr, 2024

Freedom to report?

AN accountability court has barred former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife from criticising the establishment...
After Bismah
27 Apr, 2024

After Bismah

BISMAH Maroof’s contribution to Pakistan cricket extends beyond the field. The 32-year old, Pakistan’s...