Rafi Peer Theater Workshop (RPTW) will raise its voice on every forum of the world against the involvement of the company in the alleged corruption of 20 million dollars in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded programme, "Pakistan Children's Television" (PCTV), also known as "Sim Sim Hamara".
While addressing the press conference Rafi Peer Theater Workshop (RPTW) COO Usman Peerzada along with their lawyer Ali Zafar, chief of party PCTV Faizan Peerzada, said that the allegations that USAID funding for the Sim Sim Hamara project had been terminated due to corruption and financial mismanagement are baseless. He said that the termination of funding on just on a phone call was very surprising. He also said that no written information, letter or notice of any inquiry or other investigation concerning the said allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement have been received by his group from the USAID or any other organisation or entity.
Usman said that amount as per cooperative agreement was 20 million dollar whereas the obligated amount as per the cooperative agreement was 10 million dollar but the actual amount spent until May 31, 2012, was 5.2 million dollar. He said that the date of inception of the project May 7, 2010, while date of competition of project as per original agreement was May 7, 2014.
Usman further said the USAID has throughout the life of project been closely involved in the management, operations, procurement and auditing of the project. The Rafi Peer Group is open and willing to appoint an independent and reputable accountancy firm to conduct an open and transparent audit of the project, he said.
Speaking on the occasion Faizan Peerzada said despite the termination of funding by USAID they will carry on their work adding that Pakistani business house has shown its interest in the project.
"During the last three decades, the Rafi Peer Theater Workshop has hosted 48 international festivals in the field of dance, drama, music and puppetry and is solely responsible for keeping the traditional art of folk puppetry alive in Pakistan," said Faizan Peerzada
According to the press statement issued here on Friday The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is firmly committed to helping provide increasing educational opportunities for children in Pakistan as part of our assistance to the Pakistani people. As part of those ongoing efforts, in 2010, USAID awarded a cooperative agreement to the Rafi Peer Theater Workshop (RPTW) to provide support for the programme, "Pakistan Children's Television" (PCTV), also known as "Sim Sim Hamara". The goal of the programme is to provide basic education to young children through puppet-based television and radio programmes and variety of outreach activities in Urdu and four major provincial languages to be carried out throughout Pakistan. This effort is part of the United States' commitment to help provide educational opportunities for children in Pakistan as part of our overall development cooperation with many Pakistani organisations.