To prevent and control over the misuse of official vehicles the NWFP Assembly Standing Committee on Department of Establishment and General Administration has called for provision of financial assistance to government officials for the purchase of personal private vehicles to be used for official purpose.
In this connection, the Committee has recommended financial assistance by the Bank of Khyber (BoK) for the entitled government officials in this regard. It has further recommended the payment of a handsome fixed amount on monthly basis to government officials for possession drivers and expenditure incurred in head of fuel and repair of official vehicles.
The Committee has recommended the strict implementation of existing laws and procedure to control the huge expenditure of the provincial exchequer on the use of official vehicles by the government officials.
It has prepared the report on question put up by Pir Mohammad Khan, MPA, in the provincial assembly. The mover in his question had raised many important issues and points regarding the unnecessary use of official vehicles by the officials of different provincial departments. According to the mover, some officials in violations of the rules and regulations possess more than the allowed number of vehicles.
The Committee held nine meetings to review matters like the types, model and expenditure incurred on fuel and repair of the vehicles used by the government officials from June 1999 till April 200.
It was hopeful that the implementation of the proposal could help in bringing the official expenditures under control as well as arresting of irregularities being committed in this regard. The Committee in its report has also called for abolition of the usage of above 1000 cc vehicles by the government officials.
The Committee comprising Mian Nadir Shah, Khalid Waqar Chamkani, Syed Mazhar Ali Qasim, Zar Gul Khan, Mohammad Mujahid Al-Hussaini, Shagufta Naz, Dr Imtiaz Sultan Bokhari, and Malik Qaseemuddin, while Dr Zakirullah is chairman of the Committee.
During the proceedings, the NWFP Administration secretary also told the house that in the wake of nuclear tests in 1998, the government abolished the use of the practice of heavy vehicles. The officers who were in possession of more than one vehicle were withdrawn from them. The government sold the withdrawn vehicles through open auction resulting in earning of Rs 240 million.
The Committee was also informed that for prevention of illegal use of official vehicles and control of unnecessary expenditure on them, the provincial government tasked the department of finance to prepare a package for ministers and deserving government officials in this regard.
Khalid Waqar Chamkani, a member of the body, said that ministers and government officials in this regard would be paid cash payment to prevent irregularities in this regard.
The committee was also informed that according to the existing laws, rules of business and manual of secretariat it is the responsibility of every administrative secretary to ensure the prevention of illegal use of official vehicles.