PAC takes up fake degrees’ issue

ISLAMABAD: Revelation made in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday that Foreign Office did not transfer Rs26.865 million contribution to Malala Fund of the Unesco, while Rs15.93 million allocated to Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Dhaka, were also not released.

PAC held its meeting on Wednesday under its Chairman Syed Khursheed Shah  in which the audit paras related to Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training for the year 2012-13 were examined.

It was also revealed in PAC that Rs178.621 million from the funds were allocated to cover the stipend of ongoing interns enrolled during 2010-11, 2011-12 as well as for fresh programme that was supposed to be launched during 2012-13; however, fresh programme was not launched by the government till end of year 2012-13 and still not released.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) confirmed to the committee that  the PhD thesis of Federal Urdu University's vice chancellor has been established Plagiarised and this degree was awarded to him by the Karachi University and now a letter has been written to the Karachi University to revoke the doctorate degree.

While taking up the issue of the not releasing of the Malala fund, it was informed to the committee that the Foreign Office has not yet released Rs26.85 million fund to the Ministry of Education.

When the committee sought the details and update on the issue and asked when the funds were provided to the Foreign Office, the ministry officials did not have update status on it and failed to give any details to the committee.

PAC expressed its strong annoyance at the non-preparedness of the officials saying when they came up in the PAC should come up with details.

Secretary Ministry of Federal Education Haseeb Athar told the committee that he took charge of the ministry just a day back.

On this, the committee sought a detailed report on the issue of Malala Funds.

The audit officials told the committee that the unauthorised promotions of 39 project employees of the Basic Education Community Schools project were made.

The  ministry officials told an inquiry was conducted into it, and it was established that the promotions were illegal and those who made these promotion were also on contract.

On the query of PAC, the officials told the committee that these promotion were made by then DG Brig (R) Saraj and even some officials were promoted from Grade 16 to Grade 19 in three months time.

PAC has referred this case to the FIA while giving 3-month time to probe it and report back to the committee.

The issue of plagiarism of VC of the Federal Urdu University also came up before PAC, the officials of Higher Education Commission confirmed to the committee that VC's PhD thesis had been established as a case of plagiarism and this degree was awarded to him by the Karachi University.

Ministry of Housing and Works admitted that the officials should not have obeyed illegal orders of ex-prime minister. Sardar Aashiq Gopang asked whether any action was taken against such officers but no satisfactory reply except that officials were suspended.

The PAC deferred the issue with instruction to the concerned officials to come fully prepared next time.

The audit officials told the committee that it was noted that Executive Engineer CCD-IV, Pak, PWD Islamabad opened a tender for a work construction of PCC road, Dhatta Kot, Union Council Dalwal to Karyal, Chakwal in which rates quoted by the lowest bidder M/s Basco construction for earth and concrete work was 4.95 per cent above the estimated cost put to the tender but the bid was subsequently tampered with and enhanced to 14.95 per cent over the tendered estimates, but the tampering was made only in figures and not in words. This tampering was made later and different pen was used

It was further added that the bid amount was not quoted by the bidder in words and after enhancement of bid percentage from 4.95 percent to 14.95 percent, the amount was written in words later using a different pen/ink. This enhancement of rates resulting into irregular award of work on the basis of defective, manipulated and tampered tendering.

The committee inquired whether any action taken against the officials but no satisfactory reply was given by the Ministry officials.

PAC member Dr Azra Fazal said if the official can do it one tender then he could do it also in other tenders and it should be better that the record of the other tenders signed by same officials should be examined.