ISLAMABAD, June 19: The people are committing suicides and dying miserably despite the fact that Rs5 billion, meant for the welfare of destitute, needy and the poor, are available in the government funds.

This was stated by the chairman of Ad-hoc Public Accounts Committee (PAC), H. U. Beg while presiding over a meeting of the committee here on Wednesday. Expressing concern over the financial assistance system being practised by Pakistan Bait-ul- Mal (PBM), he, however, directed the authorities concern to review the disbursement policy and rules of the PBM and furnish the report to PAC within one month. The senior auditor-general while presenting the special report on the PBM briefed the PAC that during the year 1998-99, only two per cent payments were made at local or provincial level. “Whereas, 71 per cent payments were released and authorized by the headquarter and 27 per cent on the recommendations of the president and prime minister.” He said all the payments were centralized and in violation of the policy and procedure guidelines for the payment of individual financial assistance. “He told the meeting that only Sadaat and non- Muslims were entitled for financial assistance from Baitul Mal while financial aid to Muslims was provided from Zakat funds. “At present, Rs20 billion are available in the Zakat Fund.” He called for the introduction of a transparent distribution system so that the room for misuse might be blocked. Mr Beg asked the principal accounting officer to reverse the past practice of authorizations and the payments from centre so that payments from the PBM might not only be routed but also processed and paid at local and provincial levels.

Hit-and-miss procedure may be stopped forthwith and deserving people should be assisted as per concept and policy of the government, he said adding a complete data and computerization of payments to genuine people at all levels should be maintained.

“Moreover, keeping in view the socio-economic conditions of the country, the PBM funds must be utilized and not saved.” Nevertheless, he said a Fatwa (decree) might be solicited from the concerned forum for mode of dispensation of funds from Baitul Mal.

Mr Beg constituted an Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) to find out the facts and furnish the report to PAC within one month on the payment of Rs29.319 million as individual financial assistance under political influence.

In these cases, in violation of the maximum limit of Rs5,000, the beneficiaries were given financial assistance up to Rs100,000 without investigation and verification of the status of the beneficiary.

Upon the recommendation of the Ms Naheed Khan, the political secretary to the then prime minister, an amount of Rs6.273 million was paid by the PBM in the year 1996. Mr Rehmatullah, the consultant to the then prime minister, recommended the financial assistance to various people and the PBM made the payment to beneficiaries to the tune of Rs22.470 million. Similarly, on the recommendations of the PM Secretariat and Chief Whip of the National Assembly, an amount of Rs575,000 was released through cheques to various beneficiaries in the year 1999.

The director-general of audit informed the PAC that Dr Sher Afghan, former minister for special education and social welfare, in the year 1993 ordered to shift the office of DG Special Education in a departmental building located in Sector H-9.

“Had the office been shifted to department’s owned building, this would have saved rental charges being paid by the Division at Rizwan Plaza, Islamabad, to the tune of Rs8.993 million.

Mr Bag, therefore, constituted an IDC to ascertain as to why the right decision of former minister was not implemented and fix the responsibility for delay in the shifting of the office.

He further directed the authorities concerned to hold an inquiry on the irregular purchase and misuse of furniture, fixtures and other assets worth more than Rs1 million by Ali Akbar Khalore, the director of special education, who has recently been retired from service.