The sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research has found gross irregularities in the "Promotion of Olive Cultivation on Commercial Scale" project and recommended stern action against the project director and other officials allegedly involved in the wrongdoing. MNA Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, convenor of the sub-committee presented a report to the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, presided by Malik Shakir Bashir Awan.
Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan told the committee that a senior official of the National Assembly had tried to change the report of the sub-committee but he failed. He also said that Sher Bahadur Awan, secretary of National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research was transferred after compiling this report.
The members of the committee expressed serious anger over the transfer of secretary of the committee as well as alleged efforts made by a senior official to change the report. They recommended to probe the matter and stern action should be taken against the official who tried to change the report of the sub-committee. The main committee unanimously adopted the report of the sub-committee. Federal Minister for Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNS&R) Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan assured the committee that their recommendations will be followed and action will be taken on each recommendation and the committee will be informed accordingly.
The sub-committee recommended the MNS&R to initiate stern disciplinary action under E&D rules against Project Director Olive promotion project Nasir Mehmood Cheema and other who were found guilty for the irregularities. The committee further recommended that disciplinary proceeding should also be initiated against Deputy Director Accounts, Saqib Saleem Mirza on the basis of evidence and documents proved by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC).
It further recommended that the payment record of M/s Khasta Khan Enterprises should be re examined where the full payment of olive plants were made to the concerned firm prior to arrival of plants as accepted by project director in writing. The report further said that M/s Manzil group supplied 6,000 olive plants at the rate of 1234 per plant without issuance of purchase order and inspection certificate of Department of Plant Protection (DPP).
The responsibility may be fixed for receiving the unauthorised olive plants in the premises of National Agriculture Research Center (NARC). The evaluation of bid by tender opening committee of NARC was against the term and condition of tendered documents of PARC and PEPRA rules with regard to M/s Manzil Group which was a fake company as admitted by Director Procurement Hashim Ali in his written statement before the committee.
The sub-committee established that contrary to policy 11,000 olive plants were given to only one person belonging to Nowshera. Ministry may investigate and explain the background of this particular case, the report further said.
The committee further recommended that an impartial inquiry may be initiated by the ministry to check the authenticity of air sea port bill of olive plants including the huge quantity of missing olive plants as per report by the importer. The DPD should regulate the import of plants and plants material strictly under quarantine act 1976 and should not allow any infested/ infected plants for clearance to grower under any circumstance.
The officials deputed at airports for inspection of plants and agro-based commodities should be directed to be more vigilant and transparent while inspecting the imported material. Only the competent staff not less than grade 17 officer should be deputed to perform such duty at the airports, it further said.
All the officers and officials associated with the olive project either be detached or transferred and competent as well as well reputed officers should be appointed on the same position. Dr Nadeem Amjad Chairman, PARC apprised the committee about the functions of Research institutes/centers all over the country and their mandate under the PARC.
Chaudhry Nazeer Ahmed, Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazeer, Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry, Syed Iftikhar-ul-Hassan, Shahnaz Saleem, Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla, Muhammad Salman Khan Baloch, Dr Fauzia Hameed, Parveen Masood Bhatti, and senior official of MNFS&R also attended the meeting.