ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday directed the Ministry of Planning and Development to improve financial discipline and sought details within 15 days on the foreign tours of government officers and training programmes they had attended abroad.

The committee also directed the ministry to release development funds on time so that all identified projects could be completed within stipulated time.

The Public Accounts Committee met here under the chair of Chairman Nadeem Afzal Gondal.

The committee was apprised by the Secretary Planning and Development that around Rs 360 billion has been allocated for development projects during current financial year.

He said around 191 projects had been identified for current fiscal while out of those 81 projects are scheduled to complete by this year’s end.

“We also desire that there should be zero saving in the account of development funds and the amount allocated for development funds must be utilized on the specified projects of public representatives”, said the PAC chairman.

The PAC also directed that funds must be released to National Highway Authority so it can complete work to improve the country’s roads network.

The committee was apprised that huge amount has been released for the construction of Northern bypass and that 50 per cent funds have been released for raising of Mangla Dam. Moreover, funds have also been released for the construction of Lahore Expo Center.

The PAC also directed the ministry of Defence to submit detailed report on the scandal of the National Logistics Cell within 15 days.

Director General NLC apprised the committee that NLC was a profit earning organization and has paid back all debts.