ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) decided on Wednesday to ask the government for implementing the 15 per cent increase in the salaries of government employees as announced in the budget 2005-06.

During appropriation of the accounts of ministry of science and technology, the PAC was informed that last year’s salary increase had been approved by the auditor-general revenue this year.

“This year’s increase is yet to be approved by the auditor-general whereas the finance bill has been passed by the National Assembly,” the ministry’s Secretary Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed said.

Riaz Fatyana, who presided over the meeting, said in his observation that a letter would be written to the government that such things should not happen once the prime minister had announced the increase in his budget speech.

He also observed that the country could not develop without progress in science and technology and said that budget for this purpose should be increased at least 10 times.

He said that delay in implementation of development projects also hindered country’s progress.

“The performance of officials in private and public sectors is different and government officials need to diligently fulfil their responsibilities,” Mr Fatyana observed.

Mr Zaheer said that the ministry had to surrender Rs250 million to the auditor-general’s office after it raised objections to its several projects.

Mr Fatyana directed the representatives of the auditor-general to streamline their working and raise such objections in one go.

“They should have perform a with all the objections and mark it and should not raise objections one by one,” he said.

He said that when the relevant department gave a satisfactory reply to their objections, the auditor-general’s office should approve the finances. —APP