The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) took notice of the rising sugar prices on Tuesday, expressing displeasure over the failure of concerned ministries to submit a report on the matter.
PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan, irked by the lack of response, summoned three federal secretaries – secretary of industries, secretary of national food security and secretary of commerce – to explain the delay.
The meeting reviewed audit objections related to the Ministry of Housing and Works for the fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The committee was particularly alarmed by revelations that Rs11 billion had been disbursed to contractors for development projects without conducting mandatory laboratory reports.
During discussions on financial irregularities, the Secretary of Housing and Works attributed the lapsing of grants to delays in final fund releases. The Ministry of Finance faced criticism for late disbursements. PAC member Naveed Qamar said it would be absurd to release funds on June 26. The PAC chairman questioned finance officials, asking whether funds had been allocated for lapses.
Naveed Qamar asserted that the secretary of finance and the secretary of planning should be summoned and asked to rectify the procedure. The committee decided to defer the matter to the next meeting. The session also uncovered that luxury items worth Rs180 million had been purchased for two government-owned houses in Sector F-6, Islamabad.
Committee members pressed housing ministry officials to disclose the occupants of these residences. However, the officials remained tight-lipped.
Director General of the Public Works Department (PWD) claimed he was unaware of the details.
In a sharp rebuke, PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar said, "If we had done something like this, the media would have been all over us, calling it a grave injustice".
Addressing journalists present at the meeting, he questioned: "Can anyone tell me who lives here?"
Secretary of housing and works assured the committee that the names of the occupants would be provided within 30 minutes. However, when the committee reconvened after the deadline, ministry officials cited 'network issues' and requested time to check the details outside the meeting hall.
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