Senate Functional Committee on Devolution reviews audit reports & calls for adherence to transparency standards

ISLAMABAD, July 23 (SABAH): The Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, chaired by Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, convened on Tuesday at the Parliament House.

The meeting discussed in detail the audit report regarding Federal Education and Professional Training, as well as National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination. The chairperson of the committee pointed out that although the audit department raises valid objections, there is no action on those objections, the elephant is in the room. The officials maintained that once they identify a glitch, they forward their observations to the administrative authorities.

Moreover, the officials from the audit department reported that the total number of audit paras printed in the audit reports of Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage, and Culture from 2010 to 2024 is 1,131, out of which 271 have been examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Of these, 98 are settled, whereas 860 audit paras are pending. Similarly, in audit reports (compliance), the total number of audit paras printed is 905; of these, 254 audit paras have been examined, 97 are decided, and 651 are still pending. Furthermore, the officials, while reporting on the audit reports (compliance) of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, stated that the total number of audit paras printed is 327, out of which 98 audit paras have been examined by the PAC, 29 are settled, and 229 audit paras are still pending. Additionally, the total number of audit paras printed in audit reports for special projects is 161, out of which 5 have been examined and 156 are pending.

The committee meeting, attended by Senator Poonjo Mal Bheel, Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, Senator Sardar Al Haj Muhammad Umer Gorgaij, and Senator Fawzia Arshad, unanimously suggested ensuring that the constitutional laws are being followed. Chairperson Senator Dr. Zarqa commented that “overseeing transparency is our priority; however, it is implausible to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.”

The committee meeting featured the participation of senior officials from the Auditor General of Pakistan, the Ministry of Food Security and Research, and the Ministry of Industry and Production. The chairperson, along with the other members present, expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of the secretaries of the concerned ministries.