Peoples Works Programme-II: Irregularities worth Rs858 million found in 51 schemes

Amount misappropriated in schemes where SSGCL provided meters on propriety basis.

ISLAMABAD:

Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has revealed that the Rs858.017 million were misappropriated in all 51 schemes of Peoples Works Programme-II (PWP-II) where Sui Sothern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) had provided meters on propriety basis.

Director General Commercial Audit (North) Robina Faisal submitted the reply on behalf of the AGP in the Supreme Court in a case related to the government’s review petition against the court’s December 5, 2013 verdict against the misuse of prime minister’s discretionary fund by former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf.

The apex court on December 5, 2013 had issued judgment against the doling out of billions of rupees in the form of development funds by ex-PM Ashraf during the last 10 days of his tenure.

AGP’s reply said Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) was allocated an amount of Rs5.831 billion for 92 schemes of PWP-II, which were kept in assignment account.

“The SNGPL management started work on 51 schemes, out of which only 3 schemes were completed and remaining 48 schemes were at different stages of completion,” the reply stated.  “SNGPL withdrew Rs792.820 million from the assignment account when the execution of the schemes was suspended by the Supreme Court,” it added.

According to the report, DG (CA&E) Lahore conducted an audit of PWP-II schemes of SNGPL from May 24, 2013 to June 10, 2013.

“The audit findings pertaining to SNGPL and SSGCL contained 9 paras pertaining to SNGPL , including Para 4.5.1 related to violation of PPRs 2004.”

“This para was related to all 51 schemes where procurement of meters was made from SSGCL on propriety basis for a sum of Rs858.017 million. No separate paras were issued for individual schemes.  It was pointed out that defective meters were supplied to SNGPL under this procurement,” the reply revealed.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2014.