The Sub-Committee of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) directed Pakistan Railways on Tuesday to formulate a policy with a view to auctioning abandoned railway tracks and bridges to meet its financial needs. The committee met with Sardar Ashaq Hussain Gopang in chair, which examined the Pakistan Railways Audit Accounts for year 2007-08.
Audit officials pointed out that an irregularity was made by the Punjab government when it sold out 187 marlas commercial land to the widow of a former commissioner against Rs 100,000 per marla in Mandi for construction of a CNG Petrol Station. Railways department stated that revenue department of Punjab sold the land which did not belong to the Punjab government. The matter is pending in the court of law. The committee sought details from law division on the matter. In another audit objection, it has been stated that the Balochistan government is a defaulter of Rs 550 million of Railways. The land was transferred to the provincial government but it did not make payment of the land. The Chief Minister Balochistan assured that the said payment would be adjusted in the land acquired by the Railways at Gwadar.
The audit report further highlighted that Rs 150.4 million worth of land has been illegally occupied. Railways officials stated that the land was repossessed by the railways and they are formulating a policy to bring the utilisation of Railway land under a policy.
In another case, audit objected that a contract of Rs 10.7 million was awarded for car parking at Lahore Railway Station illegally. Railways officials informed the committee that an inquiry committee has been holding a thorough probe. The committee directed them to fix responsibility and present a report within 30 days. The audit report further pointed out that National Logistic Cell (NLC) is a defaulter of Rs 20.4 million pertaining to railway carriage at Quetta Dry Port. Railway officials said that an agreement between Railways and NLC was inked in respect of transportation at Quetta Dry Port. The transportation cost was supposed to be divided on fifty-fifty basis between two entities. The payment to railways had been suspended after a railways official was appointed head of NLC board.
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