Senate body meeting: PCG understaffed, serving without ammunition

Problems can be resolved if the finance ministry releases funds.

ISLAMABAD:

Pointing to severe staff shortages, Pakistan Coast Guard Director General Brigadier Sheheryar Khan said on Tuesday that almost half of the coast guards are serving without arms and ammunition.

Speaking at a Senate body meeting on interior affairs, Khan said that both problems can be resolved if the finance ministry releases the allocated funds that are currently being held.

“The finance ministry stopped the release of Rs250 million, saying [that] we could not purchase physical assets,” he said, adding that this ban on the release of funds has been pending for almost five months.



Brig Khan also informed the committee that there has been a ban on recruitment for the past three years. Although 180 officials have retired during this period, the PCG has been unable to fill these vacant posts.

Senator Talha Mehmood asked Brig Khan to compile a summary of his problems and submit it before the committee. Senator Tahir Mashahdi suggested that the committee should summon the finance authorities for an explanation.

Pointing out additional problems with acquiring arms, Brig. Khan said that, because of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s rules, they were bound to purchase semi-machine guns from the Wah Ordnance factory even though they could obtain the same from China at cheaper rates.

“An SMG from Wah costs us Rs100, 000 and the Chinese version of the same [is] available for only Rs18, 000,” he said.

Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2012

Senator Mehmood expressed concern over the absence of the interior minister and the secretary of interior affairs while the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2012 when the discussed.



Islamabad’s traffic police wanted to acquire a blank cheque to amend any rules in the law but the committee, fearing misuse of authority, refused. The committee asked the police to come up with specific rules that they wanted covered. The Senate body also sought suggestions from the Law ministry on the amendment of the bill in three days.

Later on in the Senate session, Rehman Malik was taken to task by Senator Mehmood for his absence. Malik said that he was occupied with important official engagements. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2012.