The Public Account Committee-III directed the Ministry of Housing and Works to take action against all those government officials who were involved in accepting the award of construction of federal tribunal courts' complex at Hayatabad, Peshawar, at a cost of Rs 475.4 million against a sanctioned estimate of Rs 292.8 million. The committee met with Sardar Ashiq Hussain Gopang in the chair and examined the audit report of Ministry of Housing and Works.
The committee was informed that the award was given in 2008 and technical sanction was approved earlier in 2007. In less than six months, a price escalation was given to the contractor which cost the government Rs 182.6 million. The Secretary Ministry of Housing and Works Sharukh Arbab said the ministry decided to constitute a fact-finding committee to identify irregularities.
The committee also directed the officials to give a detailed presentation about illegal occupation of the government accommodation across the country. PAC Member Rashid Godail informed the committee that in Karachi, Marten Quarters were illegally occupied and the concerned ministry failed to take action against the illegal occupants. But the secretary informed the committee that there is political influence behind the occupation. The statement was not acceptable for members of the committee who claimed that state officials were involved in giving these quarters to illegal occupants.
Comments
Comments are closed.