PESHAWAR: Following an uproar on social media, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker government has ordered investigation into a tender floated in newspapers to seek quotations for arranging a lavish menu during the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee meeting scheduled for March 22 for sighing the Ramazan moon.

The order was issued by caretaker minister for religious affairs Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel after cancellation of the tender. He ordered the inquiry report to be submitted within 12 hours.

On March 9, the Auqaf department had invited quotations for arranging menu for the participants of the moon-sighing body. The tender included food arrangement for VIPs, the general public and reception tea.

The food items for 100 VIPs included Dampukht with rice, orange juice, rice with beef, mix vegetable, chicken barbeque, naan, seekh kabab, Russian salad, fresh salad, halwa, mineral water and cold drinks.

The food items for the general public comprising 100 persons included orange juice, rice with beef, chicken curry, mix vegetable, halwa, naan and cold drinks. The reception tea included black tea, pastries, patties, sandwiches and biscuits.

After the tender notice went viral on social media, the caretaker minister issued a notification withdrawing it on Friday.

The minister has said the ministry of religious affairs should be very cautious of the fact that austerity measures should be taken in all respects of expenditures spent from the public exchequer.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2023