Discrepancies: Irked by secretary’s ignorance, PAC defers audit paras

Livestock secretary claims he is unaware of irregularities as he took charge only recently.

KARACHI: All four audit paras of the livestock and fisheries department worth Rs11 million were deferred by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday as the officials failed to satisfy the members of the provincial watchdog about the wide discrepancies in the department’s accounts.

The secretary of the department did not justify the embezzlement of funds. Instead, he tendered an apology on behalf of his staff members who were accused of misappropriating government funds. The meeting was presided over by PAC chairperson Saleem Raza Jalbani in the committee room of the Sindh Assembly.

“The officials have broken all records of corruption,” said audit director-general Ghulam Akbar Sohu while presenting the audit paras. “During the audit, they did not show us the record of the funds spent in various projects during 2008-09.”

To this, livestock and fisheries department secretary Rahim Soomro opted for oblivion. “I have recently taken over charge of the department,” he said. “Since I have no idea about these irregularities, therefore I cannot justify the expense and defend my staff who may be involved in it.”

Irked by his response, Jalbani asked him the reason for his ignorance, considering that he was informed about the meeting ten days ago. “Why did you not get a briefing from your officers on it?” he said. “How can we review the audit paras in this condition?”

The secretary tendered an apology and vowed to take action against his staff. “I will let you know about the action against those involved in these irregularities and will recover the amount from them,” he promised.

During the meeting, Soomro also endorsed the chairperson’s remarks about massive corruption worth Rs3 billion in the Bhambhore Dairy Village and Meat Processing Zone Project, which has been subject to delay since the last three years. “The case in now in our hands and National Accountability Bureau has also started to probe into it,” he said.

He further informed the meeting that the then secretary of the department has left the country and other officials involved in the scam are facing the trial. “With timely intervention, we have recovered Rs300 million so far,” he said. “I can only take action against officers below grade 17. It is the court that has to further decide.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.