Poor working, dubious appointments: CEO EDB and MD USC grilled by National Assembly panel

National Assembly's Standing Committee on Industries on Wednesday grilled Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Engineering Development Board (EDB) and Managing Director, Utility Stores Corporation (USC), Major General, Malik Muhammad Farooq for poor performance and appointments reportedly in violation of rules.
The committee presided over by Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro expressed serious reservations over the number of executive staff members and zero interest of EDB in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Sindh and Balochistan and putting its energies to develop engineering industry. A couple of members of the committee, besides the chairman even stated that either EDB should be wound up or transferred to Punjab. CEO, EDB argued that the board's responsibility is to develop local engineering industry and not to establish any industry.
"If we want to make Pakistan Ethiopia, then wind up EDB and if we want to follow Malaysia and Thailand, we have to convert the board into authority," said Aitzaz Niazi. The Ministry of Industries has already sent a summary to the Prime Minister for extension in the contract of Niazi for another two years which will expire on August 16, 2012.
Secretary Industries, Aziz Ahmad Bilour confirmed that a summary has been submitted to the Prime Minister for this purpose. Committee Chairman, however, queried the performance of the incumbent CEO which provided basis for further extension.
He said the EDB has conducted location specific studies to map engineering potential of varies cities such as Okara, Mian Channu, Daska, Sahiwal, Sargodha, etc. Secretary Industries informed the committee that another summary has been moved to the Prime Minister seeking his permission for appointments in EDB for which interviews have already been completed.
Chairman of the committee also raised a number of questions regarding hiring criteria in EDB, criteria and qualification of CEO EDB, legal status of EDB and how it regulates engineering industry? Kishan Chand Parvani, a committee member argued that allocation of funds to EDB is waste of national exchequer, proposing that it should be closed.
The committee also quizzed Prime Minister's Advisor on Industry, Muhammad Basharat Raja and Secretary Industries, Aziz Ahmad Bilour for not conducting thorough inquiry into "illegal" appointments on contract in USC. The committee in its previous meeting on May 30, 2012 had made the following recommendations pertaining to the USC for further necessary action by the ministry: (i) to look into the matter regarding the appointments in the USC of Major Asif Raja (retired), Rashid Ashraf Tarar, Jaffar Ali and Hamid Gulzar without adopting proper procedure; and (ii) to improve the quality of consumer items and services being provided by the USC to the consumers. The appointment of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) was also challenged by the committee.
The mover of this question, Noor Alam Khan, who is also Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, hurled a number of questions at the Secretary Industries and MD, USC, and both of them failed to satisfy the committee. Both the Secretary Industries and MD, USC refuted each other's claim over the appointment on contracts. Secretary Industries stated that he is not aware of the appointments made by the MD whereas the latter argued that as Chairman of the Board of Directors (BoD) the former had authorized these appointments. Noor Alam Khan said either Secretary Industries is telling a lie or MD USC befooling the committee.
"Why is the MD hiring his own people? Are we preparing for another scam?" questioned Noor Alam Khan and added that he neither accepts bribe nor will he allow anybody to accept bribe, adding that it's time to save Pakistan otherwise the situation will deteriorate. After detailed discussion on the issue of appointments, the committee constituted a three-member sub committee to probe the matter within a month. The Ministry of Industries also gave presentation of Department of Explosives.