ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly on Thursday asked the ministry of defence to hold fresh inquiry into the fire incident at the Survey of Pakistan office in Murree on October 10, 1998 which caused Rs3.232 million losses to the national exchequer.

The PAC, which met under the chairmanship of Malik Allah Yar Khan, examined the audit reports related to the ministry of defence for the financial year 2000-01.

The PAC was informed that local purchases have been done through competitive bidding on daily basis according to rules and regulations.

About an audit brief on non-recovery of outstanding dues in some Cantonment boards, the PAC was informed that recovery process was ongoing. On learning that some defaulters were from low income group with small outstanding amounts, the PAC asked the ministry to write off such amounts.

During discussion on an audit brief about use of plots allotted for residential purposes, the committee asked the ministry to give some relief to those who are retired persons having no other source of income.

Secretary defence said that there must be some deterrent, otherwise commercial use of residential plots will increase. The PAC advised the secretary defence to ascertain as to why residential housing schemes were using names related to the armed forces.

PAC members who attended the meeting included Rai Mansab Ali Khan, Lt-Col (retd) Ghulam Rasool Sahi, Kanwar Khalid Younis, Asia Azeem, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, Riaz Fatiana, Qurban Ali Shah, Safdar Shakir, Ashiq Hussain Gopang, Maj (retd) Tanveer Hussain and Ali Akbar Wains.—APP