NAB inquiry ordered into PARC ‘illegal’ hiring

A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to hold inquiry into the appointments made in the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in violation of rules.

The meeting, which was presided over by convener Munaza Hassan, reviewed the audit objections of Ministry of National Food Security for the year 2014-15.

The audit officials briefed the committee about the non-provision of record of 269 reinstated PARC staff.

Munaza recalled that the committee had directed the officials concerned to appoint only competent people and maintained that the body would hold public hearing in this regard. She said that the PARC chairman had not followed the Islamabad High Court orders.

The PARC chairman clarified that when the appointments were made he was not a part of the management. He said neither had he appointed anyone nor did he favour any person.

Committee member Ibrahim Khan suggested that the National Food Security (NFS) secretary should personally look into the matter.

The committee chairperson noted that the secretary should see each and every case individually and see the eligibility of the reinstated employees.

The NFS secretary replied that he would conduct interviews of all the employees, adding that a committee for the purpose had been formed.

The committee chairperson inquired about those who had made appointments in violation of rules. The NFS secretary responded that many of the officials had retired while others were working on important positions.

The panel directed the NAB to hold inquiry against those who had made the appointments and granted the NFS secretary three months to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, the audit officials informed the committee that three people had been held responsible for the depletion of super basmati and broken rice stocks procured by Passco.

It was further said that Rs41,000 was monthly being recovered from one of the accused to recover a total amount of Rs18.6 million. The body was told that the accused was drawing a salary of Rs120,000 per month.

The committee ordered registration of an FIR against the accused.

Regarding the wheat requirement, the NFS secretary told the meeting that 29 million tonnes of commodity was required for next year and that 27 million tonnes of production was expected.