Embezzlement: PAC irked by irregularities in agriculture dept

KARACHI:

The Sindh public accounts committee, expressing anger over irregularities in the agriculture department, formed a sub-committee to investigate anomalies worth Rs21 million. At a meeting chaired by Saleem Raza Jalbani, audit officials presented eight audit paras involving Rs44 million. “Officials of the agriculture department have violated the rules by spending funds without the approval of higher authorities,” said the audit department’s director-general, Ghulam Akbar Soho. Agriculture secretary Shahid Gulzar produced the records of four paras worth Rs23 million. “We had procured some necessary items and paid advance amounts to the employees, following the rules,” he said.  He failed, however, to justify the anomalies worth Rs21 million. The PAC chairperson said the committee should submit a report by the next meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2015.