Embezzlement: PAC orders recovery of Rs35.4m from officials

K-P's PAC has directed the health department to ensure the recovery of Rs35.4 million from officials responsible.

ABBOTTABAD:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the health department to ensure the recovery of Rs35.4 million from officials responsible for misappropriation.

The PAC met at the K-P House, Abbottabad with PAC Chairman Kiramatullah Khan Chagharmati in the chair. The second session was presided over by former speaker Abdul Akbar Khan, while Sabir Shah, Muhammad Zameen Khan, Mukhtiar Ali Khan and Saqibullah Khan Chamkani were among the participants.

The committee discussed at length financial improprieties during the fiscal year 2007-08 at Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Khyber College of Dentistry, Police Hospital Peshawar, Saidu Medical College and Ayub Medical Complex Abbottabad, while expressing its concern about mismanagement.

The PAC had referred the issues of purchase of outdated medicines worth Rs734,000 and machinery and other items worth Rs500,000 for Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar during the fiscal year 2004-05 to its subcommittee for further inquiry.

The committee expressed its astonishment over the theft of biometry machine worth Rs250,000 from Khyber Teaching Hospital during 2004-05 and directed that the recovery should be made from the concerned officials.

While discussing the affairs of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, the committee expressed its dissatisfaction over the affairs of the facility, particularly the accounts and budgeting system.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2011.