PAC sniffs misuse of prisons' funds
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly has unearthed financial irregularities to the tune of a whopping Rs2.45 billion in funds allocated for food, medicines, clothing, and furniture supplied to the province's prisons. The PAC directed the provincial home secretary to conduct an investigation and submit a report within a month.
The PAC, which met with its Chairman Nisar Khuhro in the chair, examined audit reports from 2019 and 2020. Khuhro questioned the IG Prisons Qazi Nazir Ahmed about the contractors awarded tenders worth multibillions rupees for supplying essential items to jails. He specifically inquired about the quality of the three daily meals provided to inmates and the procedures in place for quality checks.
IG Ahmed explained that prisoners are served three meals a day in all prisons, and the food quality is monitored by medical officers and judges. However, the PAC was not satisfied with the prison authorities' explanations regarding the procurement of items such as food, medicines, furniture, and clothes, for which formal tenders had been issued. As a result, the PAC directed prison authorities to involve officers from the Sindh Food Authority to inspect the quality of food in various prisons, including the Karachi Central Jail.
The PAC also raised concerns over an unaccounted Rs8 million reportedly spent by Malir Jail. Jail authorities claimed the money was used for maintenance and fuel, but the PAC asked for detailed records within 10 days for verification.
PAC member Khurram Karim Soomro also questioned the security measures at Malir Jail, raising concerns over the escape of a prisoner through a window despite the huge funds allocated for prison reforms. The jail authorities failed to provide a satisfactory response to the PAC regarding the incident.
Subsequently, the PAC ordered an internal audit of all Sindh prisons to investigate these financial discrepancies and ensure accountability.
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