Latest news with #JunaidAkbarKhan
Business Recorder
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PAC examines MOC's audit report
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday examined the audit report of the Ministry of Communication for the year. During the meeting, audit officials said that instead of 3,938 sanctioned posts, 4,252 were advertised. 314 additional recruitments were made. On one point, Junaid Akbar Khan said that the documents of the majority are fake; jobs were sold, and you are saying there is a stay order. Most peoples' documents were forged, he added. Whoever took the money did wrong, and whoever gave the money also did wrong, member Afnanullah Khan said. He recommended action should be taken against those responsible. Action should also be taken against whoever made the appointments, says Junaid Akbar Khan. The committee referred the matter of illegal recruitments to NAB for investigation as well as decided to summon the Attorney General regarding the stay order cases. Audit objection also been raised pertaining to the unauthorised use of over Rs 4 billion by Pakistan Post Office. The communications secretary said, 'We have taken departmental action.' He said that reconciliation with the bank is very important. 'How did you use the money from utility bills?' asks the committee chairman. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Non-allotment of land causes loss of Rs4b
An audit report, presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has raised an objection over a Rs4 billion loss caused by the non-allotment of 1,250 acres of land by the Port Qasim Authority (PQA). According to the Auditor General of Pakistan's (AGP) report, a lease agreement for the 1,250 acres of land was signed between Port Qasim and the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). In 2021, a decision was made to cancel the lease agreement. However, the government's decision to cancel the lease was not implemented for two years. A refund of Rs4 billion has also not been made to the PTCL. The 1,250 acres of land have not been re-allotted. The secretary maritime affairs told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the matter of this land lease is 19 years old and the land remained with the PTCL from 2006 to 2021. "It was originally given to PTCL for establishing the Textile City Industrial Zone. The PTCL failed to develop the industrial zone in these 19 years. After the cancellation of the lease, this 1,250-acre land is now being taken back," he added. According to the secretary, the PQA will also clear PTCL's outstanding expenses. PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan asked how much revenue was generated from the 1,250-acre lease. Port Qasim officials replied that Rs901 million was received once, and Rs621 million is still due. The PAC later ordered the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to resolve all audit-related matters within six months.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Hike in EOBI pensions from May 1
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed on Wednesday that the age of Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) beneficiaries will be determined on the basis of the CNIC record instead of matriculation certificate, and the pensioners will get a raise in their pensions from May 1. The committee was also told that EOBI disbursed Rs2.79 billion among 5,131 fake pensioners. A meeting of PAC under the chair of Junaid Akbar vetted the audit paras of the Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis. During the meeting, the audit officials informed the committee that EOBI had disbursed Rs2.79 billion to ineligible or fake pensioners. According to the audit report, out of approximately 800,000 pensioners, the data of over 5,000 individuals was found to be incorrect. Pensions were issued to people whose dates of birth did not match between their CNICs and matriculation certificates. In some cases, men under 60 and women under 55 were receiving pensions, in violation of eligibility criteria. The audit officials revealed that age manipulation was used to grant pensions to more than 5,000 unqualified individuals. EOBI officials informed the committee that the institution's fund currently stands at Rs600 billion. They added that there are around 10 million businesses in the country, and any business with at least 10 employees is required to register with the EOBI. They said they verify the age of the beneficiaries through CNIC and other sources. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis secretary said that pension cases would be settled now on the basis of the CNIC, adding that EOBI pensions will be raised from May 1. PAC chairman Junaid Akbar Khan said there should be a standard criteria for determining the age of the pensioners. The EOBI chairman said they would now issue pensions based on CNICs using NADRA's data. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis secretary requested a month's time to rectify issues. The committee directed the ministry to investigate the matter and submit a report within a month. Audit officials also disclosed that EOBI had not recovered Rs2.47 billion from 2,864 institutions. The EOBI officials said these institutions did not register their full workforce and did not pay their due amounts. EOBI has recovered Rs1.53 billion but still working on recovering Rs1 billion, partially because some recovery cases were stuck in court. The committee chairman directed the EOBI officials to complete the recovery within a month.
Express Tribune
16-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PAC probes costly redesign of KKH
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday referred the case of the Karakoram Highway project redesign to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), citing alleged violations of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules. During a PAC meeting chaired by Junaid Akbar Khan, audit officials reported serious irregularities in the redesigning process of the Karakoram Highway. According to the audit, the project's cost escalated drastically from Rs4 billion to Rs36 billion due to the redesign. Officials from the Ministry of Water Resources explained that the redesign had become necessary following the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and that the new road design aligns with CPEC standards. Committee member Sanaullah Masti Khel noted that while an ordinary road may cost Rs1 billion, a road meeting CPEC standards could cost Rs10 billion. He added that public concerns are justified, remarking "wherever you look, you find military personnel minting money." Another committee member, Aamir Dogar, pointed out the growing trend of appointing retired military generals as chairmen of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda). PAC chairman Junaid Akbar added that they would continue to see former generals getting key positions. WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani defended his appointment, saying it was based on merit. He emphasized that he has 45 years of relevant experience and that his selection for the position should not be linked to his military background. During the session, Senator Shibli Faraz questioned the Wapda chairman regarding the redesign of the Karakoram Highway project. "On what basis did you change the design? "Who are you to make that decision? Do you think of yourself as God? What kind of ego is this?" the lawmaker asked sharply. The secretary of Water Resources said that an inquiry has been ordered and they did not ask for the audit para to be settled. The PAC chairman asked how did the project even begin if there was no land. Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan remarked that every single one of the Wapda projects is delayed. "You won't be able to defend this," he said as the PAC referred the matter to NAB. Khan also informed the members that the committee has recovered more than Rs118 billion in just two months. "These figures are not ours, but those of the Auditor General of Pakistan," he said. A report presented by the Ministry of Water Resources revealed that almost all major water projects in Pakistan are facing delays. Out of seven major projects, not even one has reached 50% completion.
Express Tribune
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PAC uncovers irregularities in HEC operations
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament on Wednesday discovered several discrepancies and irregularities while reviewing the audit paras of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). During the meeting, it was revealed that many students who received HEC scholarships for higher education abroad did not return. Additionally, buildings were constructed at Quaid-e-Azam University without obtaining approval from the authorities concerned. The meeting was held with PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar Khan in the chair. The meeting was informed that 89 out of 92 Fulbright scholarships in the US were cancelled, while the HEC Executive Director said that 96 scholars remained in their host countries instead of returning. The chair directed authorities to take action against students who travelled abroad on HEC scholarships but failed to return, stating that instead of studying, they took up jobs. He said that cases should be lodged against such students and their passports cancelled. The PAC chairman also raised concerns about students being blackmailed for better marks, stressing the need for discipline in the grading system. He suggested that the same teacher who prepared the examination paper should not be responsible for grading it, as this practice enabled blackmailing. Audit officials told the meeting that three buildings, including a girls hostel, were constructed at Quaid-e-Azam University without the approval of the building plan by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). On the audit objection regarding the delay in the establishment of the engineering facility at the Karakoram University, the auditor general told the committee that the cost of the project increased by Rs2.10 billion because of the delay.
