PAC panel chides ministry over unrecovered rents, graft cases

ISLAMABAD: The sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday reprimanded the Ministry of Housing and Works for its persistent failure to recover rent from shops and canteens operating under the State Office.

The sub-committee also sought comprehensive updates from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding multiple pending corruption cases linked to audit objections from fiscal years 2010-11 and 2013-14.

The meeting, chaired by Convener Shahida Akhtar Ali, reviewed audit observations related to the Ministry of Housing and Works for the mentioned years. Audit officials briefed the committee that the State Office had failed to collect rent from several commercial units and canteens, while no new lease agreements had been executed for years.

Convener Shahida Akhtar Ali questioned the status of investigations by NAB and FIA into the financial irregularities, emphasizing the need for swift accountability measures.

The secretary of Housing and Works informed the committee that letters had been sent to both agencies and updates were expected within the week.

“There are a number of NAB and FIA cases. Timely action must be ensured,” Shahida Akhtar Ali remarked, noting that “the bulk of audit volumes before the committee reveal cases of corruption.”

The housing secretary disclosed that eight cases were currently under NAB investigation, five under FIA, while one case was being jointly handled by both agencies. He further reported that in Karachi, 217 shops were under the jurisdiction of the State Office, of which 20 had been sealed and repossessed, with plans underway to re-auction the recovered units.

Officials from the State Office added that the shops were part of government colonies but several occupants were claiming permanent ownership of these properties. The secretary stated that the ministry had also written to the chief secretary Sindh to address the issue.

The committee deferred the case for one month, directing the ministry to submit a detailed progress report on recovery efforts and the status of ongoing investigations.