NAB chief summoned to review audit objections

PAC expresses dismay over ANF chairman’s absence in meeting

ISLAMABAD:

A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman on Thursday to review audit objections.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Noor Alam Khan on Tuesday wherein NAB officials were directed to inform their chairman about Thursday’s meeting.

The committee was further dismayed over the absence of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) chief in the meeting while also expressing concerns over the rising use of drugs in educational institutions.

The panel reviewed audit paras 2012-2014 of the narcotics control division. The convener remarked why the official was absent from the meeting and questioned if he was above the law, adding that every place has a decorum and nobody is above the law.

Khan stated that the ANF chief would have to state the reason for his absence if he fails to attend the next meeting. The sub-committee was also annoyed by the delay by Departmental Audit Committees (DAC) over audit objections. It was informed that so far, only one DAC had completed the process.

The convener mentioned that they received the audit brief late at night while the DAC was still incomplete. He added that a DAC should be carried out every month while noting that the minutes of the DAC of the last meeting were not signed yet.

Furthermore, according to the audit briefing, the ministry of narcotics control funded different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for running awareness campaigns against drugs. The audit officials informed the panel that the expenses were done contrary to rules outlined by the committee.

They stated that Pakistan Volleyball Foundation (PVF) was amongst those that received funds upon which the committee chairman asked how PVF ran the campaign.

A committee member, Syed Hussain Tariq, demanded sharing details of the awareness programme with the committee while Khan directed to continue the awareness drive but with formulation of rules as the committee disposed of the matter.

Moreover, the panel expressed serious concerns over a rise in drug consumption in educational institutions. The chairman suggested making punishment against drug usage stricter.

At this, the narcotics control secretary told the panel that a bill in this regard was seeking approval from the Senate while it has been passed by the National Assembly (NA). He added that some 26 amendments have been recommended in the bill.

The convener questioned, “Where does crystal meth come from?” adding that the drug is available everywhere. “It is in Islamabad, it is in Karachi,” Khan remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2021.