Bearing the brunt: Row between PDMA, bank threatens provision of aid for IDPs
Officials say this might result in international donors abandoning relief projects.
Sources say PDMA is engaged in a row with a bank over the transfer of an amount from the account funded by UNHCR, for the relief and disaster management of IDPs, to the Regional Tax Officer, Peshawar. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Jalozai and Togh Sarai camps might be deprived of relief goods in coming days due to a row between the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and a bank over the issue of money transfer.
Official sources at Civil Secretariat Peshawar told The Express Tribune PDMA is engaged in a row with Habib Bank Limited, Police Road Branch, Peshawar over the transfer of an amount from the account funded by UNHCR to the Regional Tax Officer (RTO) Peshawar without informing PDMA.
The amount paid to RTO by the bank, under the head of sales tax, is Rs8.16 million. “The PDMA account from which the money was withdrawn is funded entirely by UNHCR as per their agreement with the government. [It is] strictly for the relief and disaster management of IDPs at Jalozai and Togh Sarai camps,” said a PDMA official requesting anonymity.
“The withdrawal of money in such a way might have a negative impact on donations, and there is a possibility of the abandonment of this project by UNHCR and other international donors,” he said. “The IDPs are likely to face the consequences of this issue between PDMA and the bank. The provision of relief items, including basic supplies, might have to stop because we will face a scarcity of funds.”
Quoting a sales tax act from 1990, the official termed the withdrawal of money from the account "illegal". He said PDMA is a government organisation and not a registered firm, importer or exporter; neither does it associate with the dealers from whom they purchase food items for IDPs. The bank accounts of the suppliers concerned should have been frozen and the money recovered from them, rather than withdrawing money from the UNHCR funded account, he maintained. “This will create an adverse law and order situation in the IDP camps and the bank will be responsible for any consequences.”
He said officials of the State Bank in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary office, secretary finance and certain other offices had been informed about the situation and PDMA was seeking a refund of the amount.
The bank manager was not available for comments.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Jalozai and Togh Sarai camps might be deprived of relief goods in coming days due to a row between the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and a bank over the issue of money transfer.
Official sources at Civil Secretariat Peshawar told The Express Tribune PDMA is engaged in a row with Habib Bank Limited, Police Road Branch, Peshawar over the transfer of an amount from the account funded by UNHCR to the Regional Tax Officer (RTO) Peshawar without informing PDMA.
The amount paid to RTO by the bank, under the head of sales tax, is Rs8.16 million. “The PDMA account from which the money was withdrawn is funded entirely by UNHCR as per their agreement with the government. [It is] strictly for the relief and disaster management of IDPs at Jalozai and Togh Sarai camps,” said a PDMA official requesting anonymity.
“The withdrawal of money in such a way might have a negative impact on donations, and there is a possibility of the abandonment of this project by UNHCR and other international donors,” he said. “The IDPs are likely to face the consequences of this issue between PDMA and the bank. The provision of relief items, including basic supplies, might have to stop because we will face a scarcity of funds.”
Quoting a sales tax act from 1990, the official termed the withdrawal of money from the account "illegal". He said PDMA is a government organisation and not a registered firm, importer or exporter; neither does it associate with the dealers from whom they purchase food items for IDPs. The bank accounts of the suppliers concerned should have been frozen and the money recovered from them, rather than withdrawing money from the UNHCR funded account, he maintained. “This will create an adverse law and order situation in the IDP camps and the bank will be responsible for any consequences.”
He said officials of the State Bank in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary office, secretary finance and certain other offices had been informed about the situation and PDMA was seeking a refund of the amount.
The bank manager was not available for comments.