Parking plaza made into lawyers’ hospital, PAC told

ISLAMABAD: An interesting audit para came before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Tuesday that narrates a tale of how construction of a parking plaza was stopped after incurring an expenditure of Rs66.05 million without recording any reason by the Evacuee Trust Property Board and the property was handed over to the Lahore Bar Association for establishment of lawyers’ hospital.
In the PAC meeting on Tuesday, the audit officials told the committee that the Evacuee Trust awarded a contract for construction of parking plaza at its property on Samaj Road, Lahore, and for this purpose an amount f Rs185 million was provided in the budget estimates for 2009-10.
After incurring an expenditure of Rs66.05 million, the construction of parking plaza was stopped without recording any reason and this resulted in non-recovery of mobilisation advance Rs20.222 million.
The audit apprised the committee that in last departmental accounting committee held on 25/11/2011, EPTB
was directed to adjust the mobilisation advance immediately and current status of completion, terms of contract, etc may be provided to the Audit and the land be made secured from the encroachments.
The EPTB replied that the project was approved by the Board in its 252nd meeting dated 21/03/2006 at an estimated cost of Rs202.93 million and the Ministry stopped the work vide letters dated 07-04-2008 and 21-04-08 and thereafter, the construction work was stopped by
the TMA vide letters dated 12-06-2009 and 26-06-2009 while the mobilization advance was paid to the contractor under the contract agreement.
The EPTB explained that a strict ban was imposed by Punjab government on the high rise buildings in Lahore and all the ongoing works were stooped/reviewed by Director General LDA/Chief Town planner.
Chairman EPTB Siddiqul Farooque told the committee that in compliance of the directives of the prime minister dated 4/11/2011, issued vide letter no 2784 control no 895, the said property has been taken over by the Lahore Bar Association for establishment of lawyers’ hospital.
He told the committee that the option of holding meeting with Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association on this issue would be explored. He said the ETPB approached the NAB for referring this case to them but the NAB was of the opinion that if the PAC gives directives, then they would take it.The PAC referred the case to the NAB for the probe and fixed responsibility of those EPTB officials who were behind this mega scam and also sought record from EPTB.