The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has reportedly expressed annoyance at the National Telecommunication Authority (NTC) for presenting "fudged" figures to get approval of revised estimates 2017-18 and budget estimates 2018-19, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.
On January 29, 2018, Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication stated that on the directive of the Federal Cabinet, the ECC scrutinized budget estimates of NTC in its meeting held on December 12, 2018 and recommended approval of the federal cabinet. The decision of the ECC was submitted to the federal cabinet in its meeting held on December 20, 2018, wherein federal cabinet decided to refer back the case to the ECC for consideration.
According to sources, Ministry of Maritime Affairs had raised certain queries in the cabinet meeting regarding budget figures in the original budget 2017-18 and revised budget 2017-18 as there were substantial differences between the two budget figures.
The sources further stated that against queries of Minister for Maritime Affairs, NTC clarified that the annual budget is based on estimates prepared in advance on the basis of nine months actual and three months average basis. The opening balance of the budget (balance sheet items only) picked from last year's accounts balance as on 30th June, closing of financial year(s). The budgeted figures had to be re-adjusted in next year's budget estimates as revised estimates for previous year. The figures/amount of the budget cannot be matched with next year's annual budget because the same is based on estimates and the accounts are final.
Sources stated that the committee did not accept clarification given by the NTC and directed the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication to present factual position after removing huge variations between the original budget 2017-18 and revised budget 2017-18 of the NTC and other discrepancies as pointed out by the forum.
The committee expressed serious concerns on the capacity of top management of NTC and directed Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication to take necessary corrective measures in this respect.
After a detailed discussion, the ECC directed the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication to address and rectify the discrepancies pointed out in the revised budget 2017-18 as well as budget estimates 2018-19 and variations in the balance sheet, and present the same again in next meeting of the ECC.
The ECC expressed serious concerns on the capacity of top management of NTC and directed Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication to take necessary corrective measures in this respect.
Comments
Comments are closed.