ISLAMABAD: The Sub-Committee of Public Accounts Committee on Thursday expressed displeasure over delays in framing service rules of Engineering Development Board and non-payment of dues to employees of the Utility Stores Corporation, directing the Ministry of Industries and Production to resolve the issues on priority.
The meeting of the sub-committee, chaired by its convener Syed Naveed Qamar, examined the audit paras related to the Ministry of Industries and Production and its attached departments for the financial year from 2011-12 to 2022-23. The convener took notice of the late arrival of secretary Industries and Production and expressed annoyance over the delay for which the secretary apologised. The committee reviewed audit objections relating to the Ministry of Industries and Production for the years 2011-12 to 2022-23, including those concerning the Engineering Development Board. Naveed Qamar expressed annoyance over the failure to frame service rules for the Engineering Development Board, reminding officials that directions had been issued in 2020 to finalise the rules. The secretary assured the sub-committee that the rules would be finalised within two weeks. The meeting also witnessed strong criticism over the non-payment of outstanding dues to employees of the Utility Stores Corporation. Naveed Qamar remarked that shutting down an ongoing system had been a wrong decision and questioned why payments were not made despite assurances. Naveed Qamar questioned why the dues were being disbursed in instalments and urged the ministry to expedite the process. The committee directed clearing all dues before Eid.
