ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has constituted an inter-departmental body to look into 11 audit paras pertaining to misappropriation of Rs327.139 million paid by the National Highway Authority (NHA) on account of land acquisition for the MI and M2 projects.

The PAC meeting presided over Malik Allah Yar Khan in the Parliament House reviewed the accounts of the ministry of communications for the year 2000-2001 on Tuesday, says a press release.

The committee headed by Syed Qurban Ali Shah would look into the issues of non-conducting of a survey required under the land act, change in type of land acquisition collector, interest paid due to delay in announcement of award and its cancellation thereafter, and higher rates paid for the land of same kind in the locality in contravention of the Land Acquisition Act as well as the NHA code. The committee has been asked to submit its findings within six weeks.

Saying that the NHA code and land acquisition acts were at contradiction to each other, the PAC directed the secretary communications to suggest amendments to the NHA code.

Discussing seven different audit paras of payment of foreign currency component resulting into the excess payment/loss of Rs1,480.65 million to various contractors without substantiating their requirement and utilization of foreign currency, the PAC wondered as to why payment to the contractors was made in foreign currency and on market rate of US dollar instead of the agreed rate stipulated in the contract, resulting excess payment/loss to the national exchequer.

The chairman PAC directed the secretary to hold an inquiry into the matter. He also directed the chairman NHA to initiate precautionary measures to safeguard the national interests.

The NHA was also directed to devise a system of internal controls to ensure proper monitoring and utilization of its budgetary allocations and prioritize construction and maintenance of highways to cater to growing volume of traffic.

The committee also asked the NHA not to initiate projects on political pressures and take into account genuine requirements and commercial viability. MNAs Riaz Fatiyana, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chaudhry Qamaruz Zaman Kaira, Maulana Abdul Ghaffar Jatoi, Ghulam Rasool Sahi, Liaquat Baloch, Syed Qurban Ali Shah and Hafiz Hussain Ahmad attended the meeting.