Need for effective accountability apparatus underlined
Financial matters of ministers, departments need attention of authorities
Islamabad: [March 11]
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday underlined the need for effective accountability apparatus in the country.
Financial matters of many ministries and departments needs urgent attention of the authorities to ensure proper utilisation of funds which will guarantee national development, it said.
Stories of corruption appearing in press, Auditor General's reports and Transparency International Pakistan's findings should not fall on deaf ears, said Mirza Riaz, Secretary General of the PEW.
Talking to a group of National Highways Authority (NHA) contractors, he said that almost every department is violating public procurement rules and other procedures.
Riaz said that NHA would swiftly transfer allocated funds to other projects and make adjustments in the finalised plans for achieving personal gains.
The department enjoys such an influence that agitations and accusations by Senators, MNA, Chief Ministers, PAC and resolutions in the assemblies would not force it to mend ways, he said. ANP's persistent insistence on getting communication ministry in every coalition is amazing, he added.
He said that AG, NAB, FIA, PAC and TI-P have unearthed corruption cases to the tune of tens of billions in NHA which are tip of the iceberg. Adil Gilani has mentioned over 50 cases of corruption and irregularities but to no avail.
Blue-eyed contractors were paid despite poor quality of work while others are made to run from pillar to post for their dues, said Riaz.
The contractors informed that in Dec 2010 the Senate Committee on NHA termed it den of corruption. The then Chairman who would call contractors at home to strike deals with the help of GM Finance and Director Revenue.
Subsequently the then Chairman was removed but his cronies escaped, got promotions and they are still plundering the resources while Ministry of Communication has become a silent spectator, they informed.
The contractors said that the powerful mafia comprising member finance, director revenue and some others are calling the shots in NHA who have transformed this institution into a nursery of corruption.
After uproar on the national level, the NHA took some face measuring including dismissing 1800 employees while safeguarding the mafia. Shoaib Ahmed Khan, the head of the mafia got rapid promotions to become member finance from the post of GM Finance.
They lauded the move of Planning Commission to suspend the funds of NHA for spending Rs 20 billion in violation of the rules.
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