PAC panel directs probe into Rs20b Workers Welfare Fund issue

The subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday directed investigation into the deposition of Rs20 billion of the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) into the finance ministry and sought report within seven days.

The subcommittee meeting, chaired by its convener Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, also formed a team, comprising the interior secretary and FIA officials on the issue of land purchase worth Rs108 million by the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and sought report by July 16.

The meeting reviewed the audit objections related to the overseas Pakistanis ministry. On the issue of non-reimbursement of Rs20 billion of the WWF, Sadiq said that the matter dates back to 2006-2007 but so far, no progress had been made.

Audit officials told the committee to write to the finance ministry to return the money to the fund. The finance ministry officials informed the committee that if the money belonged to the WWF, it would be returned. The committee directed for investigation into the matter and sought report in 7 days.

The meeting also reviewed the issue of purchase of shares worth Rs4.82 billion by the EOBI. The committee directed for completing the investigation into the matter within 7 days.

The meeting discussed the issue of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation’s (OPF) housing scheme. The committee was informed that the contract of Rs2.4 billion for the housing scheme was awarded to Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) without tender.

Sadiq said that giving a contract to FWO or any single party without tender was a violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and an illegal act. He noted that the law ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Committee member Riaz Fatyana said that the ministry should answer whether the PPRA rules had been violated in the tendering process. OPF officials said there were land was encroached that led to the contract being awarded to a specific company. The committee directed for resolving the issue of OPF housing scheme within 30 days.