PAC takes up case of new IIA runway
Summons report from FIA on its construction without taking distance into consideration
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) summoned the investigation report prepared by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on the construction of a new runway at Islamabad International Airport (IIA) without keeping distance under consideration.
The PAC meeting was chaired by Rana Tanveer Hussain in which the paras of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) audit report 2012-13 was reviewed by the members.
The committee expressed its displeasure on the construction of a new runway close to the existing one and asked as to who had approved the design. It further urged to identify the responsible officials and make recoveries from them.
The audit officials said that the second runway should have been constructed 1,035 metres away from the existing runway but it was constructed at a distance of merely 210 metres. Senator Shibli Faraz inquired about who prepared the design and who approved it. The member Noor Alam Khan demanded to trace the responsible and make recoveries from them. He further urged to include the project’s designer in the recovery process. The FIA officials apprised that they had submitted a report to the interior ministry on the matter which suggested a criminal action. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials said that approval of an inquiry into the matter was given in October 2019.
IIA gets ramp to facilitate passengers
The committee member Mushahid Hussain Syed demanded the provision of FIA’s report to PAC.
IIA’s leaking roofs
Syed Hussain Tariq complained that IIA’s roofs start dripping after rains and asked what was being done for this problem. The CAA secretary defended it by saying that the roof was only dripping from one place, adding that the issue caught more attention on social media. He directed the related ministry to hold a meeting with the audit officials and appear before the committee after 15 days.
The audit officials informed the members Rs 20 billion were released for infrastructure work at IIA without taking the measurements of the site. The audit officials urged to identify the culprits.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2020.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) summoned the investigation report prepared by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on the construction of a new runway at Islamabad International Airport (IIA) without keeping distance under consideration.
The PAC meeting was chaired by Rana Tanveer Hussain in which the paras of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) audit report 2012-13 was reviewed by the members.
The committee expressed its displeasure on the construction of a new runway close to the existing one and asked as to who had approved the design. It further urged to identify the responsible officials and make recoveries from them.
The audit officials said that the second runway should have been constructed 1,035 metres away from the existing runway but it was constructed at a distance of merely 210 metres. Senator Shibli Faraz inquired about who prepared the design and who approved it. The member Noor Alam Khan demanded to trace the responsible and make recoveries from them. He further urged to include the project’s designer in the recovery process. The FIA officials apprised that they had submitted a report to the interior ministry on the matter which suggested a criminal action. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials said that approval of an inquiry into the matter was given in October 2019.
IIA gets ramp to facilitate passengers
The committee member Mushahid Hussain Syed demanded the provision of FIA’s report to PAC.
IIA’s leaking roofs
Syed Hussain Tariq complained that IIA’s roofs start dripping after rains and asked what was being done for this problem. The CAA secretary defended it by saying that the roof was only dripping from one place, adding that the issue caught more attention on social media. He directed the related ministry to hold a meeting with the audit officials and appear before the committee after 15 days.
The audit officials informed the members Rs 20 billion were released for infrastructure work at IIA without taking the measurements of the site. The audit officials urged to identify the culprits.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2020.