The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has taken action on Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement regarding Pakistani bureaucrats’ property acquisitions in Portugal. The PAC has directed the Establishment Division and the Ministry of Interior to immediately provide a list of all such officials. Furthermore, it has summoned officials from the Ministry of Interior, State Bank, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and other relevant institutions for a briefing in its next session.
During its meeting, the committee also reviewed the audit objections of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The PAC has decided to address the issues of tax exemptions in the former Fata and Pata regions and the potential closure of utility stores in its upcoming August 19 meeting, where it will also hear the grievances of protesting utility store employees.
Audit officials informed the committee about a significant embezzlement case involving Muhammad Kaleem, a former assistant accounts officer in Jeddah, who allegedly misappropriated a total of Rs44.715 million. This included funds intended for pilgrims’ meals and the Hajj Welfare Fund. The committee was told that the accused is now living in Canada, and while a request has been made to issue a red warrant, no progress has been made so far. The PAC chairman expressed skepticism that a fraud of this magnitude could have been carried out by a single individual.
Additionally, irregularities were found in Hajj arrangements, specifically a cash payment of nearly Rs49.8 million to a firm for tents for 615 people, which was made without any receipts or proper records. The committee has directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to submit a progress report on all these matters within one month.
