The sub-committee of Public Accounts Committee Wednesday warned for initiating criminal cases against the officers of health ministry if they failed to pay back the embezzled amount, drawn on account of a project allowance. According to the audit brief, 41 officials of Ministry of Health had made unauthorised withdrawal of Rs 1,210,191 on account of project allowance in National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care during the period 1994-95 and 1997-98.
The committee, met under the chair of Yasmeen Rehman and attended by Hamid Yar Haraj and Secretary Health Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, said that the PAC, dissatisfied with the reply of health ministry had directed the PAO to recover the amount observed by the Audit.
The representatives of the health ministry told committee that despite repeated requests the four officials concerned did not pay back the amount rather moved to Federal Services Tribunal that has asked the PAC to reconsider its decision and not get the amount recovered.
The FST decision infuriated the committee, saying that FST had nothing to do with the case and the sub-committee would endorse previous decision of PAC, directing the officers to pay the amount. According to audit brief, among the four officials, owing the amount include Matiullah Khan (JS F&D), Yasin Ahmed (JS F&I), Manzoor Ahmed Malal (DS Budget) and Mujahid Hussain Naqvi (SO F&A).
However, the chair directed the health ministry to warn, through a letter, the officers of below 17-scale not to recommit such corruption. "The sub-committee would endorse the PAC decision. The recovery would be made according to rules and regulations. The officials of below 17-scale would also face action if they recommit the corruption," said Yasmeen Rehman.
The committee assured the ministry of all out support for recovery and said if the officers fail to pay back the amount, another directive may be issued and directed the ministry to submit a report on the matter. Meanwhile, the committee also directed the health ministry to send a summary to law and justice ministry for deputation of a legal officer to examine day-to-day cases and submit a report to the committee within a month.
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