The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has expressed serious concern over a press release recently issued by Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) on the statement of audit officials in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). In the press release, Jamshoro Joint Ventures Limited had alleged that the contents of Auditor General of Pakistan's report discussed in the PAC were baseless. The office of Auditor General of Pakistan clarifies that this office had conducted the audit of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and not Jamshoro Joint Venture Ltd (JJVL).
The JJVL statement said that the so-called audit officials of the PAC appear to have made a number of claims and allegations against the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and state-owned companies SSGC and SNGPL. At the same time, these "audit officials" have reportedly also made observations about JJVL that are absolutely and demonstrably untrue.
The AGP office said after receiving the desired data and record, the factual position on the audit observations will be established. At this stage the private venture should not claim that the observation was baseless. Moreover, instead of reporting to the press they should have sent their response to audit through the Sui Southern Gas Company. The AGP office further clarified that irregularities in awarding the contract were printed in the audit report for financial year 2010-11 captioned "irregular award of contract for LPG extraction plant".
The report was discussed in the PAC meeting held on November 4, 2015, wherein the SSGC had agreed that a juxtaposition of i) Feasibility Report ii) notice for invitation of tenders plus tending documents and iii) the contract in between SSGC and M/s JJVL would be provided to the audit office with all relevant documents, in order to evaluate whether any change had been effected in the prequalified joint venture subject without the written approval of SSGC prior to the deadline for submission of bids; was the commitment with regard to the operating capacity was fulfilled and whether installation was new or used.