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ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday ordered an inquiry into the delay in the construction of the Welfare Fund building and to submit a report.
The committee also sought to fix responsibility on officials found to be involved in financial losses of Rs1.73 billion from the EOBI due to faulty decision.
Shahida Akhtar Ali convened the sub-committee to examine the audit report of the Establishment Division for the financial year 2018-19.
The committee was informed that Rs1.39 billion was invested in six sectors and no profit or capital was withdrawn from the banks and the matter was pending in the NAB. The ED secretary said that Rs 14.50 billion has been recovered and the rest is subject to litigation.
The Members’ Committee was informed that the incremental cost has increased from Rs5.60 billion to Rs7.94 billion in the construction of the Welfare Fund building in Blue Area. The raising of two blocks of the building has not yet been tendered, the committee was informed.
The Foundation Secretary replied that there was a valid basis for the opposition to the audit and that an investigation had already been initiated into the matter and was yet to be presented to the board of trustees.
Giving reasons for the delay, he explained that the consultant hired for the project had given incorrect estimates in the first place and that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had also further delayed the acquisition of the land and had delayed going to the address the other problems.
Expressing her displeasure, the convener asked to reveal the name of those officials named in the inquiry and due to the irresponsible attitude of the government officials the nation was facing losses of billions of rupees.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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