PAC resents President, PM’s costly foreign visits, urges accountability of Zardari’s expenses

ISLAMABAD: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of National Assembly has voiced resentment over serious financial irregularities amounting to Rs over 120 million in foreign office and Pakistan embassies in other countries during the year 2005-6 and issued directives that the amount be recovered from the officers found responsible within two months and they be called back to Pakistan.
PAC chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan regretted million of rupees were being spent at present on the visits of president and prime minister like the past while the visits were of no avail. National assembly should have authority to discuss every thing including expenses related to the president, he added.
Government and leadership should curb corruption within their ranks and practice austerity, he urged.
Committee met here under its chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday to discuss audit objections pertaining to accounts of foreign office for the year 2005-6.
Giving briefing to committee, Director General (DG) audit said during the period 2005-6 foreign office had released a sum of Rs 10.1 million to investment board, ministry of commerce, CBR, information ministry and SAARC human resources development centre to hold seminars but no proof had been provided about the expenses. The committee had given 2 months time to respective ministry for adjustment of this amount.
Audit told the committee foreign office paid a sum of Rs 7.887 millions to officers appointed in Pakistan embassies in foreign countries during 2005-6 on account of advance salaries and TA/DA but this amount had not been adjusted so far.
PAC upon it directed the foreign ministry to recover the amount from the respective officers within two months failing which stern action would be taken against them and their names would be made public through media.
Committee further directed the amount be recovered from the salaries of the in service officer and from the pension of retried officers.
Citing to another serious financial irregularity, audit told over 1.80 million rupees were paid to 4 officers of Pakistan embassy in Spain under additional daily allowance.
PAC issued directives these four officers be removed from their offices immediately and be called back to Pakistan.
Committee directed foreign secretary to recover this amount from these officers within two months.
Audit further told incumbent Pakistani ambassador in Copenhagen Fouzia Abbas was paid over 3.2 million rupees under the head conveyance allowance. Pakistani consulate in Jeddah paid Rs 4 million as additional house rent against a vacant house.-Online