The Sub-Committee of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday gave an exception to Prime Minister Secretariat by settling its appropriate account in the absence of principal accounting officer (PAO). While examining the appropriation accounts of Prime Minister Secretariat for financial year 2008-09, Convener of the sub-committee Sardar Ashiq Hussain Gopang was informed that a junior official of the Prime Minister Secretariat was attending the meeting for settlement of accounts of the Secretariat.

A joint secretary to Prime Minister Secretariat appeared before the committee for settlement of an account which the PAC had declined to accommodate in the past. Syed Khursheed Shah in his ruling had repeatedly directed the PAOs of ministries and other government departments to come themselves during discussion on audit accounts of respective ministries.

However, a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and convener of the sub-committee settled the account in the absence of PAO. He in soft tone asked the PAC Secretariat to intimate the PM Secretariat not to repeat it again. The committee on Tuesday set a precedent that a joint secretary could also appear for settlement of accounts before the committee.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016