NAB orders transparency in govt ad payments

Holds meeting of its prevention committee on PID.


Our Correspondent September 03, 2015
PHOTO: National Accountability Bureau

ISLAMABAD: The first meeting of National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Prevention Committee on Press Information Department (PID) on Wednesday discussed in detail the measures to bring betterment in public sector advertisement release system.     

The meeting, chaired by NAB Acting Chairman Rear Admiral (retd) Saeed Ahmed Sargana, was attended by NAB’s DG (A&P), vice president of the committee along with representatives from the PID, Pakistan Television, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Ministry of Information, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and representatives of private media groups.

The meeting desired to involve information secretary, Pakistan Broadcasting Association (PBA) and the ABC’s director in the subsequent meeting to devise a consolidated and comprehensive system to bring improvement in the release of payments, said a press release.

The meeting also discussed the role of ABC director, the PID and other stakeholders. Weaknesses in the system were identified and input and suggestions were shared by all members to revamp the existing PID advertisement release system into a more transparent one.

It is pertinent to mention that NAB under section 33C is mandated to carry out the state functions for reformation of the government departments.

Before this, recommendations have been forwarded to the concerned departments regarding tax evasion, Ministry of Religious Affairs and other departments and relevant stakeholders for implementation.

“It is noted that feedback of the departments is very encouraging especially measures taken up by Punjab government against spurious drugs in consequence to the NAB’s recommendations are bringing a positive change,” the meeting noted.

Meanwhile, NAB Lahore arrested the NTTC’s former chief engineer design and services Innayat Hussain, who is involved in Rs13.2billion case related to purchase of transformers. Hussain during 2010-14 approved purchase of transformers from various companies at exorbitant prices. He will be presented for remand in an accountability court.

NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has arrested Khiyal Ahmed, a private person who allegedly transferred forfeited property worth millions of rupees through fraudulent means in connivance with officers and officials of Revenue Department Peshawar.

During the course of inquiry it was revealed that in the year 1991 Supreme Court on reference of Customs Court had forfeited the property worth millions of rupees in the name of Ayub Afridi, his sons and nephews.

Accused Khiyal Muhammad fraudulently transferred the forfeited property in his name and thus tried to pave the way for Ayub Afridi to retake forfeited property. The accused person will be produced before Accountability Court Peshawar for obtaining their physical remand.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2015.

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