Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly has expressed strong displeasure over the incomplete records provided by the Planning and Development Department (P&D) regarding audit paras, including several billion-rupee projects funded by foreign sources. The committee has directed the Secretary of P&D to initiate an investigation into the concerned officials responsible for providing incomplete records and take action against those found at fault.
The PAC meeting, held on Monday under the chairmanship of Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, took place in the committee room of the Sindh Assembly. Among the participants were PAC members QasimSirajSoomro, SaadiaJaved, Khurram Karim Soomro, and Secretary P&D JavedSibghatullah Mahar, along with other officials. The meeting reviewed audit paras from 2019 to 2021 of the Planning and Development Department. During the session, the department failed to present complete records for 12 audit paras, including multi-billion rupee projects funded by foreign sources. Chairman NisarKhuhro questioned why these project records were not available for audit when they are part of the Sindh budget.
He emphasized that foreign-funded projects in Sindh are not exempt from monitoring or audits. He added that since P&D is a supervisory department for all others, providing incomplete audit records falls under negligence. In response, Secretary JavedSibghatullah Mahar explained that he had recently been appointed and requested additional time to provide the necessary records. However, Khuhro stressed that despite changes in personnel, the department must ensure that all audit records are submitted, especially considering P&D has monitoring units in every district.
The committee expressed frustration over the incomplete records and ordered an investigation into the officials.
