The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the transparency in awarding the contract of "Awakening campaign for women through mass media" in 2000-01 causing a loss of Rs 5.9 million to the national exchequer. The PAC directed the Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education Ministry to hold a departmental inquiry and submit its findings to the committee within one month.
The committee also directed the ministry to strengthen its internal financial controls, strictly monitor the utilisation of budgetary allocations and surrender unspent amounts within the stipulated time.
The committee, which met here on Wednesday with MNA Malik Allah Yar Khan in the chair, took up appropriation of accounts and audit paras of the ministry for 2000-01.
According to the details provided by the Audit Department, the ministry entered into contract with two companies and Habib Films for arranging countrywide puppet shows and screening of black and white film 'Baghi'.
The activity was carried out in connection with awakening campaign for women through mass media without following the proper procedure causing a loss of Rs 5.9 million to the national exchequer, the Audit Department said.
Moreover, the companies were given 50 percent of the fee as mobilisation advance and later the remaining amount was also released without obtaining any proof substantiating whether the shows were actually conducted or not.
The PAC also ordered inquiry against the DDO of the ministry for unjustly drawing Rs 7.02 million from the campaign's account.
While discussing another audit para regarding construction of Khidmat Maternity and Child Health Centre at Mianwali, the PAC directed the ministry to extend financial assistance only to civil society organisations of national level and good repute.
The directive was issued after the committee was informed that the ministry has approved Rs 2.88 million to a Mianwali-based NGO for the project and the funds were released, however, the NGO failed to bring the project on grounds to date.
Despite clear-cut instructions of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec), Departmental Working Party could only approve projects up to Rs 0.7 million.
A Mianwali-based NGO 'Khidmat' submitted PC-1 for the construction of the maternity home with total estimated outlay of Rs 19.68 million.
The PAC directed the secretary to immediately pursue the matter and get the mortgage of the land in the name of the government.
The PAC also directed the women development secretary to pursue the recovery of long outstanding amount of Rs 2.434 million and Rs 8.02 million against the governments of Balochistan and Punjab, respectively.
MNAs Lieutenant Colonel Ghulam Rasool Sahi (Retd), Syed Qurban Ali Shah, Dr Abdul Ghafar Khan Jatoi, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Riaz Fatiyana and Mohammad Safdar Shakir attended the meeting.
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