Audit paras: Wapda explains 'factual' position about news of audit paras discussed in PAC

Taking a strong exception to a news item regarding the meeting of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) appeared in a section of press on December 10, 2015, the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) spokesperson has said that the matters about audit paras relating to Wapda have been misreported in the news item. He said though the minutes of the meeting will be issued by the quarters concerned in due course of time, Wapda's senior officers, who attended the meeting took notes of the proceedings of the meeting vis-a-vis audit paras about Wapda.
The spokesperson said that as many as 15 audit paras relating to Wapda were discussed in the PAC meeting held on December 9, 2015. In order to explain the factual position and keep the record straight, brief description of the audit paras discussed in the meeting and decisions made by the PAC about them are as follows:
"Regarding audit para about loss of Rs 95.38 million due to theft of vehicles, electrical and other material, PAC directed to effect recovery and to get the record verified from Audit within 15 days. Regarding the audit para about unjustified payment of claims of Rs 244.70 million due to inefficient contract management, PAC directed to submit to the committee the comparison of BOQ rates of 2005 agreed in the contract and the rates of 2010 on which the payment was made to the contractor along with a reply, in the next meeting of the committee to be held on December 16 and 17, 2015. Regarding the audit para about non-recognition of interest amounting to Rs 114.66 million accrued on loan, PAC directed to get verified the record from Audit within 15 days. Regarding audit para about undue favour to contractor due to unjustified payment of escalation amounting to Rs 62.99 million, PAC settled the para subject to verification of record from Audit within 15 days. Regarding audit para about non-recovery of rent of Rs 36.78 million, PAC directed to get the recovery record verified from Audit within 15 days and resolve the issue at DAC level.
"Regarding the audit para about unauthorised/irregular variation order amounting to Rs 25 million, PAC directed that the inquiry be finalised by NESPAK and submitted to Audit within one month. Regarding audit para about irregular procurements of Rs 22.35 million in violation of PPRA Rules-2004, PAC directed that the inquiry be finalised by Member Finance Wapda within 15 days covering all details of quantity of each item procured along with its rate and mode of purchasing.
"Regarding the audit para about non-recovery of security deposit and extra rent of Rs 9.09 million, PAC settled the para subject to verification of record from Audit within 15 days providing proof that 25% extra rent on account of construction of a mezzanine floor has been charged to all tenants whose lease agreements were renewed after the date of issuance of office orders, ie, 17.8.2005 for charging extra rent. Regarding audit para about non-disposal of off-road vehicles amounting to Rs 2.20 million, PAC directed to scrap the vehicles and dispose of the same as per PPRA Rules.
"Regarding the audit para about wasteful resources due to non-utilisation of Hemodialysis Machine worth Rs 1 million, PAC settled the para. Regarding the audit para about excess payment in violation of the provision of cost of variation orders amounting to Rs 1246.95 million, PAC directed to get the Revised PC-I approved from ECNEC within one month. Regarding the audit para about an unjustified provision of variation order amounting to Rs 101.66 million, PAC settled the para. Regarding the audit para about loss due to damage of material worth Rs 3.02 million, PAC directed to pursue the case with NICL vigorously and finalise the same within 3 months. Regarding audit para about loss of Rs 2.93 million due to procurement of electrical material at higher rates, PAC settled the para subject to verification of record from Audit within 15 days. Regarding audit para about unauthorised expenditure of Rs 1.24 million for security of TBMs, PAC settled the para subject to verification of record from Audit within 15 days."