NA panel orders probe into religious affairs ministry’s issues

Forms sub-committees to investigate encroachment, over-hiring and fund mismanagement


Rizwan Ghilzai March 01, 2019
National Assembly of Pakistan. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has formed three sub-committees to investigate alleged abuse of authority in the ministry. The standing committee was told that a large amount of land belonging to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has been encroached upon by land mafia.

Similarly, the board inducted 1,925 people for 1,476 vacant positions. In this way, around 500 people have been additionally hired in violation of the rules. Hence, the standing committee has set up a sub-committee to investigate issues pertaining to ETPB. The sub-committee will present its report in 30 days.

The committee was also informed that in 2017 the Departmental Developmental Works Party (DDWP) had approved facilities for residential block number 3 in Peshawar to help Hajj pilgrims, with Rs36 million reserved for the project during fiscal year 2017-18. However, no funds were released.

Similarly, DDWP had approved Rs30 million for construction of a training hall at Hajj Directorate of Quetta. According to PC-1, the project was scheduled to be completed in fiscal year 2016-17. However, the Public Works Department (PWD) returned Rs4.9 million due to which the project could not be completed. Now, the ministry of planning and development is demanding the remaining funds.

The standing committee declared that the government has failed to ensure timely completion of its projects. It also criticised the decision to not include any project in the new Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Therefore, in order to dig deep into these issues and review the current and former PSDP, a sub-committee has been set up which will present its recommendations within three days.

The ministry of religious affairs and interfaith harmony told the committee that the Madrassa Development Board was formed up in 2001 but it is working without any chairman these days. The committee was also informed that three model madrassas have also been established for which millions of rupees have been spent.

In order to investigate matters pertaining to these seminaries, another sub-committee has been formed which will forward its recommendations within 30 days. The committee was informed that actions on some of the recommendations have already been ensured while implementation on other recommendations will be made soon. The standing committee’s session was presided over by the chairman, Asad Mehmood.

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