ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday expressed strong disapproval over administrative and financial irregularities in the Ministry of National Food Security and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), particularly regarding unlawful appointments.
The Public Accounts Committee also raised serious concerns over 332 illegal appointments made by the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC). The secretary for food security was reprimanded for appearing unprepared before the committee.
The meeting of the Public Accounts Committee was presided over by Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan, during which the audit paras of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24 were examined.
MNA Shazia Marri voiced concern over the repeated delays requested by the secretary on audit paras. Chairman PAC Junaid Akbar stated, “You were expected to provide answers today. If you’re not prepared, why are you here? Millions of rupees are spent on a PAC meeting.” The PAC deferred all audit objections related to the Project Management Unit and directed to hold a DAC meeting within a month to resolve the audit issues.
The committee also raised serious concerns over 332 alleged illegal appointments made by PARC. Audit officials disclosed that only 164 positions were advertised, yet 332 individuals were hired, contravening official procedures. Audit officials also revealed that domicile certificates were not provided for the appointees. While the acting chairman stated that 206 of the selected individuals were scientists recruited on merit, the committee questioned the transparency of process. In response, the PAC discussed referring the case of Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). “If Dr. Ali fails to appear before the committee on May 6 and justify the appointments, the case will be forwarded to NAB,” he cautioned.
The PAC chairman further alleged that the list of appointees included relatives of a federal minister and PARC chairman.
Examining the audit para, it was revealed that 195 mills in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan have not paid cotton tax from 2012 to 2023 and authorities did not collect tax of Rs3.4 billion from the cotton mills. Secretary National Food Security said the mills have gone to the courts, and now an agreement is going to be reached with them. The PAC chairman directed to recover the amount by June.
While examining another audit para, the Audit officials told the committee that the Central Cotton Committee recruited 155 employees without the approval of the Ministry of Finance. The audit officials said that there was a loss of Rs21.6 million due to recruitment without approval. The secretary of Food Security said that all these 155 employees have been dismissed, and the Central Cotton Committee should have taken permission from the Ministry of Finance before recruiting. Aminul Haque asked why they were dismissed after 11 years. The secretary responded that they were not working for 11 consecutive years, labourers are recruited for 89 days every year during the cotton season. The PAC directed to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 15 days.
During the meeting, PAC members also expressed concern over the poor condition of cotton crop and decline in production. The secretary said that efforts are underway to improve the cotton crop and the Central Cotton Committee is being merged with PARC.
The Public Accounts Committee also decided to write to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the issue of frequent and untimely changes of secretaries. Hussain Tariq said that 4 to 5 secretaries have been changed in the Food Security Division in the last few months.
