Ministry tasked to formulate PCSIR financial rules

PAC panel told PEC not getting accounts audited

ISLAMABAD:

A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the non-existence of financial rules for the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to proceed on the matter and come up with a result in six-and-a-half months’ time.

The panel was told that the rules for the scientific body did not exist for the last 47 years.

The body also sought a fact finding report from the Ministry of Science and Technology in two weeks regarding the conversion of technically and physically unfit science caravan trucks into mobile laboratories by the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF).

It also required a report on the audit of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

The sub-committee of the Parliament’s PAC, which met under the chairpersonship of convener Munaza Hassan, reviewed the audit objects of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The officials told the body that the PSF was given a project under which the trucks of science caravan were to be converted into mobile laboratories.

The panel was informed that these trucks were found to be technically and physical unfit when they were used in the fields.

Ministry of Science and Technology’s secretary stated that the fact finding report was still awaited.

The committee convener observed that it was a waste of public money and adding that the directions of the PAC were not being implemented.

The panel gave the science ministry two weeks to present a report on the matter.

The audit officials briefed the committee about the non-utilization of PSDP fund of Rs340 million to the PSF saying the amount which was received in 2016 was surrendered. The committee sought a fact finding report on the matter.

The body also discussed that the PEC had not conducted an audit of it accounts.

The committee secretary maintained that the National Assembly had ordered that the audit of all the organizations should be carried out.

The audit officials apprised the panel that NTS and PEC were not getting their accounts audited.

The committee granted a time period of six-and-a-half months to the science ministry for the formulation of financial rules for the PCSIR.