SLIC, NICL operating without chiefs, PAC told

Review of commerce ministry’s audit objections postponed

ISLAMABAD:

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has expressed its displeasure with the non-appointment of the chairmen of the State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) and the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).

A committee meeting on Wednesday, chaired by its chairman Rana Tanveer Hussain, postponed the review of the audit objections about the commerce ministry for 2019- 20 because of the absence of the ministry’s secretary. The meeting was informed that the commerce secretary could not attend because he was infected with coronavirus. In his place,the special secretary of the ministry appeared before the committee. However, the principal accounting officer was also not present, therefore, the review was put off.

During the meeting, the issue of the vacant posts of the chairmen of SLIC and NICL also came under discussion. The chair asked for how long the post of NICL chief was vacant. Committee member Noor Alam Khan quipped that perhaps there was no person in the department to fill the post. The committee was informed by a commerce ministry official that the new chairman of SLIC would join the office on March 17. Currently, the official added, he was working in Hong Kong.

Rana Tanveer Hussain asked what achievements the incoming chairman had made in Hong Kong? Another committee member Mannaza Hassan asked why was the NICL not providing its accounts for audit. Audit officials said there were no auditors for the last five years. Rana Tanveer commented that he was at loss to understand the situation as the entire system is in shambles.

The chair then asked about the salary of the officer in MP-1 grade. The special commerce secretary informed the committee that the salary limit for MP-1 is Rs500,000 to 800,000, adding that the perks included a car along with chauffer and fuel. Noor Alam Khan said that only friends or brothers are posted to the coveted posts.

He added that if a member of the National Assembly (MNA) could work on Rs168,000, why those officials could not.

Rana Tanveer Hussain said that he has heard that the managing director of a public sector utility was drawing Rs6.8 million salary but it needed confirmation.