The PAC, which met here with its chairman Nadeem Afzal Gondal in the chair, reviewed the audit brief of Ministry of Human Rights for the year 2006-07, Ministry of Science and Technology for the year 2006-07 and Federal Judicial Academy for year 2004-05. The PAC recommended to the Ministry of Finance to finalise a cut off date for the release of budgetary grants to various ministries and government departments to minimise lapse of funds, which the ministries as a general practice do not surrender in due time.
The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) informed the committee that Ministry of Finance released the annual budget near the closing of the financial year. Subsequently, the funds were deposited in the personal accounts of Principal Accounting Officers (PAO) of the ministries rather surrendering them.
Member of the Committee Zahid Hamind said it was not fair that only ministries should be blamed for keeping the government money in private bank accounts, but Ministry of Finance was equally responsible for that. Deputy Auditor General of Pakistan Tahir Ahmed said that it was another general practice that the ministries put extra funds as a cushion to fill the vacant posts, while demanding the annual releases to prevent the lapse of budgetary grants.
It was observed that Ministry of Women Development had drawn an amount of Rs 2.1 million out of 'Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women' (CEDAW) project funds in 2004-05. The amount was disbursed to different parties through pay orders during the next financial year 2005-06. The DDO in violation of rules has withdrawn the amount in his own name and made payments to the parties through pay orders.
Chairman PAC directed the Auditor General of Pakistan to verify how many semi-autonomous, autonomous bodies and corporations did comply with the directives of PAC regarding putting the minutes of their board meeting on their websites for information of the public. An official of the PAC secretariat informed that majority of governmental departments were following the directives of the PAC in this connection. The committee was further informed that PAC completed the audit of last nine years. On the suggestions of AGP, the chairman said they would soon review the audit paras pertaining to the present government. Federal Judicial Academy was directed to frame the internal rules and regulations otherwise they will have to follow the government's rules.