ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The Pakistan People’s Party has asked the government to expose and punish those behind alleged corruption in the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI).
In a statement here on Thursday, a party spokesman said audit report of the EOBI had revealed alarming level of corruption that cannot be swept under the carpet.
“According to press reports, a loss of over Rs2.2 billion has been detected in the accounts of EOBI. An audit report prepared by the directorate of the commercial audit says that at least 20 cases involving losses of over Rs2 billion have been detected and the EOBI despite reminders failed to respond,” said the spokesman.
The irregularities include blockade of capital owing to ill- planned investment of over Rs1.4 billion in plots, an investment of over Rs438 million in Sui Southern Gas Company in violation of rules; irregular purchase of vehicles involving over Rs20 million and irregular payment of leave fare assistance amounting to over Rs6.6 million, he said.
“The report says that the EOBI had made an advance payment of over Rs1.4 billion on account of 400 plots purchased in Islamabad. The payment was recorded as a capital expenditure because allotment of these plots in EOBI was to be done later. The audit says that till the disposal of these plots no earning on this huge investment was expected and the capital of over Rs1.4 billion had been blocked owing to ill-planning.”
The audit also found out that the EOBI had purchased 21 vehicles of over Rs20 million in contravention of government orders that clearly stated “no new vehicle will be acquired by any department for any purpose till further orders.”
The vehicles purchased included eight KIA Grand Sportage Jeeps of Rs12.3 million; two Toyota Corolla cars of Rs1.6 million; two Suzuki Cultus cars of Rs1.17 million, five Suzuki Potohar jeeps of Rs3 million, four Sukuzi Bolan vans of Rs1.5 million.
CLOSURE OF FM STATION: Meanwhile, the PPP has criticised the closure of a private FM radio station in Balakot.
According to the PPP, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) closed down the radio station ‘Mast FM-103’ after it aired programmes criticising the alleged misuse of funds and corruption in the relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake-affected area.
The management of the radio station has claimed that their request for renewal of the broadcast licence was not accepted by Pemra without any reason.