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

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...