ISLAMABAD, Aug 24: National Assembly standing committee on minorities, culture, sports and tourism has constituted a five-member committee to probe irregularities in the leasing of Pakistan Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in Karachi.

The committee met here on Tuesday to discuss the leasing of the institute with Rai Azizullah Khan in the chair. The committee observed that the procedures adopted by the ministry for leasing out the institute didn't seem to be transparent.

It said the instructions laid down by the government were not followed in advertising the lease, and the lease agreement must have been finalized after inviting Expression of Interest from the companies.

Mr Khan said the ministry had deviated from the clear directions of the prime minister secretariat in leasing out such public institutes. Mr Khan directed the ministry to stop further proceedings in finalizing the lease of the institute.

He also asked the ministry to abide by the rules and regulations laid down by the government in future. Later, the committee discussed the leasing of Pak-Austrian Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in Swat. In this connection, culture and tourism secretary apprised the committee that Austrian government had expressed its desire to make the institute more functional.