ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday raised concerns over foreign visits undertaken by the former Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) without ministerial approval and financial clearance.
A meeting of the PAC sub-committee was held under the convenership of Moeen Aamir Pirzada to review audit objections concerning the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination with regard to PTDC and the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
Audit officials informed the committee that the Managing Director of PTDC undertook foreign visits without the approval of the federal minister and without clearance from the Ministry of Finance, incurring an expenditure of Rs1.1 million.
They told the committee that cases against the MD had previously been filed with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), but he had been acquitted. According to ministry officials, the issue had gone to court and the appeal filed by NAB was later dismissed by the High Court. The cases related to alleged illegal recruitments and certain land matters. Officials further stated that if ministerial approval had been required for the foreign visits, the matter could now be regularised by obtaining the necessary approval from the ministry.
Audit authorities also informed the committee that two VIP rooms of a PTDC motel in Ayubia remained vacant throughout the year, causing a financial loss of Rs5.8 million. The committee convener remarked that it was difficult to understand how rooms could remain vacant during the peak tourist season.
During the discussion, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla asked how many PTDC properties were being outsourced. The PTDC Managing Director informed the committee that 19 properties had been handed over to the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while open bidding had been conducted for 13 properties in Gilgit-Baltistan. He added that four properties in Gilgit-Baltistan had been given to Green Tourism under the Special Investment Facilitation Council framework.
Under agreements with the provinces, PTDC would receive 10 per cent of revenue once the properties were leased. The MD said PTDC was no longer directly managing its motels, as these had been handed over to provincial governments. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla remarked that it appeared as if the government was outsourcing to itself, a point contested by the PTDC chief, who clarified that the properties had been transferred to the provinces and that only those in Gilgit-Baltistan had been outsourced through leasing. The committee also reviewed audit objections related to the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
Convener Moeen Aamir Pirzada noted that the national hockey team had recently performed well and qualified for the World Cup, but expressed surprise at how the federation had been managed in the past. He emphasised the need for a complete reorganisation of the federation.
The officials of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination informed the committee that various institutions, including the Federal Board of Revenue, Customs, and the Capital Development Authority, were opening job opportunities for players. They added that medical treatment had also been made free for players at Shifa International Hospital.The convener stressed that athletes should be fully supported by the state. The committee granted the ministry additional time to address audit objections related to the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
