ISLAMABAD: A Sub-Committee of the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday questioned the expenditure of Rs84 million on a building hired for a proposed Media City project that was never established, while reviewing audit objections related to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The meeting, chaired by Shahida Akhtar Ali, examined audit objections for the financial years 2010-11 and 2013-14.
The committee was told that a building had been hired for the Media City project, but the project was never implemented despite an expenditure of Rs84 million. The relevant record had not been verified and the amount spent appeared to have gone to waste.
Responding to the observation, secretary information said the initiative was not a project under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The committee directed the ministry to verify the relevant record and submit details within two weeks.
The subcommittee also discussed an audit objection regarding the failure to obtain audited statements for grants worth Rs4.5 million provided to various press clubs.
Audit officials said expenditure reconciliation had not been carried out. The information secretary informed the committee that press clubs had repeatedly been requested to submit their audited statements.
Senator Bilal Mandokhail asked under which head the grants had been provided to press clubs. The secretary replied that the funds were extended as financial support.
According to audit officials, Rs3 million had been provided to the National Press Club, Islamabad.
The committee referred the matter to the Departmental Accounts Committee for further review and implementation.
