ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday questioned unauthorised scholarship and fee payments worth Rs144 million to Iqra University and the allotment of 11 OPF Housing Scheme plots to ministry employees at discounted rates.
The panel described the scholarship case as a “major” one, deferred it due to ongoing NAB proceedings, and ordered officials to identify those responsible for the alleged misuse of authority in the housing scheme.
The PAC sub-committee, chaired by Shahida Akhtar Ali, reviewed audit objections relating to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis for the financial years 2010-11 to 2013-14.
The forum examined an audit objection regarding an unauthorised payment of Rs144 million by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Workers Welfare Board under scholarship and university fee payments.
Audit officials informed the committee that the payments had been made to Iqra University since 2007 and were found to be irregular.
They added that the matter had already been referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). NAB officials told the committee that a reference had been filed and the case was currently under trial, involving a total of 48 accused.
Shahida Akhtar Ali remarked that it was a major case, questioning how funds could have been released to Iqra University without proper records.
Sub-committee member Bilal Mandokhail asked whether NAB had also included Iqra University in its investigation. The committee deferred the matter for further consideration.
The sub-committee also reviewed an audit objection concerning the allotment of 11 plots in the OPF Housing Scheme, Lahore, to ministry staff at discounted rates.
Audit officials said the plots had been allotted to ministry employees despite them not being eligible under the scheme, and that the allotments were made at discounted prices.
They informed the committee that the matter was currently pending before a court.
Shahida Akhtar Ali asked whether the names of officials who had misused their authority had been identified.
Officials replied that the allotments had been approved through a board resolution and were later cancelled through another resolution.
They added that five allottees had voluntarily returned their plots.
The committee directed officials to include the names of those responsible for the alleged misuse of authority in the record.
