PAC body orders audit of Rs3.58 bn education funds

ISLAMABAD: The Implementation and Monitoring Committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday directed for special audit of Rs3.58 billion funds provided to the Ministry of Education during the tenure of former president Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf as 80 percent of the funds were utilised, but not a single institution was established from the funds.

The PAC Implementation and Monitoring Committee meeting was held on Wednesday with its Chairman Rana Afzaal Hussain in the chair which examined the audit paras relating to the Ministry of Education and Professional Training. The audit officials told the committee that the funds over billions of rupees were provided to the Ministry of Education in the year 2004-5 for establishing the poly technical institutes in districts. The Federal Education and Professional Training secretary told the committee that the project was not initiated as the PC-1 for these projects were not conceived.

PAC Implementation and Monitoring Committee chairman remarked that it was a case of misadministration and whether the accountability of those who failed to perform their duties was made.

Member of the Committee Mian Abdul Manan observed that the funds of billion of rupees were provided for the project, but, if this amount was not utilised for the purpose for which it was sanctioned, it should be toled where it was spent as neither the Madrassa reforms nor poly-technical institutes were established.

The committee directed for the special audit of the funds of Rs3.58 billion within one month time-frame.

The audit officials told the committee that the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional training has taken the stance that after the devolution of the ministry to the provinces, the record was not available. Meanwhile, examining the audit para of promotion given to the officials in the Ministry of Education and Professional Training, Mehmood Khan Achakzai remarked that when there was an empty post then the president and prime minister could not make the appointment, but it was being observed that the rules were violated. “Everyone was chasing Panama issue but no one see this kind of things,” he remarked.

The Federal Education and Professional Training secretary told the committee that these promotions were made as per Section 4 of the rules.

Mehmood Khan Achakzai remarked that when there was no post available then under which rules the appointment be made after giving the promotion.