Khursheed tells NA: PAC recovers Rs 119 billion from government departments

The Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah informed the Lower House of the Parliament on Monday that Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recovered Rs 119 billion from various government departments during the last two and a half years.
"There is a need to strengthen the PAC through legislation. The PAC should be made an independent institution to curb corruption in the country. An amount of Rs 119 billion is recovery of the PAC and there is a dire need for legislation to make it more powerful", the Opposition Leader expressed these views while presenting the reports of the PAC on the accounts of the federal government for the years 1996-97, 1998-99 and 2007-08 in the House.
"What will be implemented if 18 and 19 years old audit paras are discussed in the PAC? Almost 60 percent people have passed away, 30 percent have been retired and 10 percent have been promoted at higher posts during this long period", he said. Later, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz while winding up debate on the report of the Committee on FATA Reforms, 2016 said that the recommendations for reforms in FATA would be presented in the Federal Cabinet meeting for approval within next 2 weeks.
He told that after the approval from the Cabinet, a draft bill would be presented in the National Assembly for legislation to bring reforms in FATA. He said that there were two proposals; either FATA should be made a separate province or FATA should be merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He told that most of people of area want FATA's merger into the KP. He said that suggestions to reduce the transition period for complete merger of the tribal areas from 5 years have been received and the committee will further discuss this matter.
The Adviser said that rehabilitation of Temporarily Dislocated Persons and reconstruction of infrastructure are recommended before the merger of FATA. He said that initiating a major program for socio-economic development and capacity building of FC are prerequisites for the integration. He told that Tribal Areas Riwaj Act will be introduced while mainstreaming of FATA would enable the residents of the area to opt any system of their choice for the settlements of disputes and issues. Taking part in the debate, Shahabuddin said reforms should expeditiously be approved for the betterment of the people of tribal areas.
Sahibzada Tariqullah said the FATA should be merged into KP before the general elections of 2018. Muhammad Jamaluddin said the FATA should be given provincial status instead of merging it into the KP. Shah Jee Gul Afridi said the FATA should be given representation in KP Assembly during the next general elections. The National Assembly also passed "The Pakistan Council of Science and Technology Bill, 2016." It was moved by Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid.