Forensic investigation: Probe into ICT Fund allocations
Senate committee complains of unequal allotment of projects.
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications was informed on Friday that a forensic audit of the National ICT Research and Development Fund is being conducted so as to ascertain reasons why projects were not granted to provinces on an egalitarian basis.
The committee, chaired by Muhammad Idrees Khan Safi, was also apprised that a mechanism with regard to the grant of National ICT funds to provinces was being prepared to ensure better opportunities for people of all provinces, including Giglit-Baltistan.
Committee Member Senator Zahid Khan had pointed out that the ICT Fund was implementing 16 projects in Punjab, six in Sindh, five in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), and 36 in the Islamabad Capital Territory, while Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan had been ignored.
Similarly, he also pointed out that Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan were also ignored in projects under evaluation, as only one project is planned for Balochistan, eight projects in (K-P), 24 in Punjab, eight in Sindh and 49 in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Senator Muhammad Rafique Rajwana also opposed the present distribution of projects to provinces and said there must be a thorough probe into the process. He said an awareness drive should be launched in the country so that people of far-flung areas could also benefit from the aforementioned projects.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2012.
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications was informed on Friday that a forensic audit of the National ICT Research and Development Fund is being conducted so as to ascertain reasons why projects were not granted to provinces on an egalitarian basis.
The committee, chaired by Muhammad Idrees Khan Safi, was also apprised that a mechanism with regard to the grant of National ICT funds to provinces was being prepared to ensure better opportunities for people of all provinces, including Giglit-Baltistan.
Committee Member Senator Zahid Khan had pointed out that the ICT Fund was implementing 16 projects in Punjab, six in Sindh, five in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), and 36 in the Islamabad Capital Territory, while Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan had been ignored.
Similarly, he also pointed out that Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan were also ignored in projects under evaluation, as only one project is planned for Balochistan, eight projects in (K-P), 24 in Punjab, eight in Sindh and 49 in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Senator Muhammad Rafique Rajwana also opposed the present distribution of projects to provinces and said there must be a thorough probe into the process. He said an awareness drive should be launched in the country so that people of far-flung areas could also benefit from the aforementioned projects.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2012.