ISLAMABAD: The sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee has directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to withhold fresh grants to press clubs until audited accounts for previous years are submitted.
The meeting of the Sub-Committee of the PAC chaired by its convener Moin Amir Pirzada, reviewed audit objections pertaining to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for multiple fiscal years spanning 2011-12 to 2022-23.
Audit officials informed the panel that funds had been disbursed to multiple press clubs as far back as 2010-11, but audited records had yet to be submitted.
Responding to the queries, the Secretary Information and Broadcasting said that frequent changes in the management of press clubs contributed to delays in submission of audited accounts.
He acknowledged that the ministry had not yet received the required financial statements.
The convenor directed that future grants should be made conditional upon the submission of audited accounts from previous years.
The committee also discussed an audit objection concerning the maintenance and operational use of a “secret service fund” by the information department.
Questioning its necessity, the convenor asked why such a fund was required in the first place.
In response, the secretary stated that the fund had since been discontinued following a Supreme Court ruling.
He added that all available records had been provided to audit authorities upon request.
The committee directed officials to locate and present the relevant Supreme Court order under which the secret fund was abolished.
Concluding the session, the PAC sub-committee ordered that a fresh Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) meeting be convened to further examine the outstanding audit objections and ensure compliance with financial rules.
