The National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday sought details from the Ministry of Interior about collection of parking fee by Rangers deputed at Wagha Border. Nadeem Afzal Gondal chairing the meeting of PAC wanted to know are Rangers authorised to collect parking fee at Wagha Border, Lahore. He also wanted to know if the contract was awarded through competitive bidding.
The AGP said that an estimated amount of Rs 6 million is collected by Rangers annually through parking fee and assured the committee that a special audit of Rangers accounts be started next month and find out in what head the parking fee collection was deposited. Reviewing the audit accounts of Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron), the committee was informed that the ministry is not registering Afghan refugees living in Pakistan, but enlisting them to find out their accurate number.
The PAC directed the Ministry of Finance and Safron to resolve the matter of Rs 100 million saving of Safron as the Ministry of Finance was asking to surrender the amount. Imran Zeb, Joint Secretary Safron said a meeting was convened today (Wednesday) of Finance, Safron and UNHCR to sort out the matter. Replying to a question, Imran said that $600 million were pledged to the government for execution of projects related to Afghan living in Pakistan.
Audit pointed out that in the office of the Project Director (Health), Commissioner Afghan Refugee, Quetta Rs 11.8 million were embezzled. The ministry constituted an inquiry committee in September 2004. According to the findings of the inquiry, the officers dealing with financial and administrative matters had mala fide intentions. Later, NAB Balochistan through a letter in 2007 informed that Zahid Rasool was sentenced to imprisonment for three years and the sentence shall commence from the time of arrest.
Committee members were informed that Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees (CAR) Quetta was a Brigadier who was not investigated but asked to relinquish the post. An army major was also involved in embezzlement but no action was taken against both. The chairman directed the ministry to complete a fresh inquiry and submit details in 20 days.
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