ISLAMABAD: The Pub­lic Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday orde­red special audit of auto manufacturing and tobacco sectors and noted there was billions of rupees’ tax evasion in the tobacco sector.

Presided over by PAC chairman Noor Alam Khan, the committee meeting sought tax details of auto manufacturers and their audit reports.

The PAC chairman inqu­i­red from the auditor general (AG) about the special audit report of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The AG told the committee that the report had been finalised and it would soon be tabled in the house.

The PAC also examined audit paras of the ministry of foreign affairs.

Auditors informed the committee that London High Commission had given £5 million to a law firm in the Hyderabad Fund case.

They said the High Court of England and Wales had rejected Pakistan’s claim of £35 million in the seven-decades-old Hyderabad Fund Case, and ruled in favour of India and Nizam VII, Nawab Osman Ali Khan Bahadur’s, grandsons.

Mr Khan expressed his surprise over carrying on decades-old audit para and settled it accordingly.

The committee also examined perks and privileges of officials working in autonomous bodies and public sector companies and suggested the government to get rid of those officers who were taking huge salaries and perks.

The PAC chairman also directed the auditor general to conduct performance audit of the law ministry as well as other ministries and the government departments.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2022