Misappropriations of funds in various projects of Ministry of Women Development particularly Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP) has been found. Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that GRAP was started at a cost of Rs 619.672 million and the project total cost in phase-I was 418.563 million whereas the PSDP allocation for 2006-07 is Rs 86.036 million.
They said that utilisation during 2006-07 remained Rs 60.377 million and cumulative utilisation up to June 30, 2007 was Rs 328.549 million whereas the amount surrendered was Rs 18.151 million.
Sources said that the PSDP allocation for 2007-08 is Rs 40 million and the scheduled completion date for GRAP phase-I is June 2008. Sources said the funds pertaining to GRAP and other projects were kept in First Women Bank and there is no evidence to whom the profit was paid.
The audit of the ministry was conducted last year. The Women Development Wing had left no evidence of corruption, however observations were received from audit in respect of non-compliance particularly in terms of monitoring and evaluation of development projects, they said. Under the GRAP Rs 250 million was released for all 1,11 district governments in the four provinces for gender mainstreaming in local governments in 2006-07, they said.
Though the MoWD has established gender sensitisation sections in the ministries of Finance, Information and Broadcasting, Law, Justice and Human Rights, Establishment Division, Planning and Development Division HRM and capacity development center in yet the pace of work and tasks achievement was comparatively slow as staff was negligent to create awareness among government functionaries regarding gender equality.
They said that Convention on Discrimination Against Women (CDAW) was implemented and introductory campaign among stakeholders has been completed and the CDAW National Committee has been formed at provincial and federal levels. The sources alleged that budgetary allocations on GRAP and other projects were embezzled with no proof and evidence of expenditure.