PAC chief recommends suspension of Sindh health secretary

As health department have failed to submit a reply over the audit objections on billions of rupees of irregularities

KARACHI: Sindh health department has still not submitted a reply to the Sindh Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over billions of rupees of corruption.

Audit objections on billions of rupees of irregularities in the provincial health department were supposed to be reviewed on Thursday in the PAC meeting. They have been facing delay for the past six years. The officials of Sindh health department have ignored the orders passed by the provincial government and still haven't submitted a reply over the audit objections.

A total of 29 audit objections of fiscal years 2008-09 and 2009-10 were reviewed in the meeting. Some of the officials were absent in the meeting. PAC Chairperson Ghulam Qadir Chandio expressed annoyance over their absence.

Graft worth millions uncovered in Sindh health dept

However, the chairperson and members of the committee were helpless over the absence of officials and the meeting had to be wrapped-up due to non-submission of papers.

In an informal conversation with the media after the meeting, Chandio said that PAC has recommended suspending the health secretary. If the health secretary fails to take immediate action, he will have to face the consequences, he added.

The officials' absence from the meeting is indicative of the importance it holds for them. They are continuously absent in the meetings. The officials of health department have crossed all limits and disciplinary action will be taken against them, said Chandio.

He further said that the officials who haven't submitted working papers should be suspended.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2019.