ADA vs CAA: Delay in asset liquidation causing loss of millions

Vehicles are gathering rust in parking lot of Lehtrar Road office, causing losses to national kitty.

RAWALPINDI:

The national exchequer has been suffering a loss of millions of rupees due to inordinate delays in the liquidation of the Airport Development Authority (ADA).

Sources in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Wednesday told The Express Tribune that ADA employees were absorbed by the CAA in 1993 after the government decided to abolish the agency. However, they said assets worth million of rupees including ADA vehicles have yet to be liquidated.

Vehicles which were supposed to be handed over to the CAA are gathering rust in the parking lot of the Lehtrar Road office, causing losses to the national kitty.

Sources alleged that the delay has benefited some CAA officials who are allegedly stripping the vehicles — including trucks, loaders and cranes — for spare parts.

A senior CAA official said that earlier, these vehicles were parked at Benazir Bhutto International Airport for many years, but seven months back, these and other vehicles belonging to private contractors and defunct airlines were deemed a security risk and shifted to the CAA them to CAA Lehtrar Road office.

CAA spokesman Mubarik said the liquidation issue was in a court. “Yes, some ADA vehicles are parked at the CAA office, but I don’t know the exact number. The liquidation case is in the court.”

When asked why the CAA is not properly pursuing the case, he referred The Express Tribune to the CAA Karachi Office, where another spokesman said, “I think the matter is in court… but I can’t say anything for sure.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2013.