Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Nisar Ahmed Khuhro questioned the regularization of 132 veterinary doctors hired on an ad-hoc basis in the Fisheries and Livestock Department without a Public Service Commission (PSC) exam.
The committee ordered the department to verify audit records related to this issue within 10 days. The PAC’s scrutiny follows an audit objection by Sindh’s Director General of Audit, who labeled the regularization of these doctors as against official procedures.
The meeting reviewed various audit issues in the Fisheries and Livestock Department from 2018 to 2021, with participation from Secretary Kazim Hussain Jatoi, DG Nazir Hussain Kalhoro, and other officials. The issue dates back to 2015 when the veterinary doctors were hired on a contractual basis and later regularized in 2017 through legislation passed by the Sindh Assembly. Secretary Jatoi clarified that the regularization received formal approval from relevant authorities.
However, PAC Chairman Khuhro questioned why the department had not yet verified the records with the audit department if the regularization was Committee member Qasim Soomro pointed out a Sindh High Court ruling that prohibits the regularization of contract employees without a Public Service Commission (PSC) exam exam. Additionally, PACPublic Accounts Committee (PAC) Secretary highlighted the Supreme Court’s mandate for public advertisements in contract-based hiring.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman instructed all departments to ensure their audit records are verified before PAC meetings. A follow-up session on this issue is scheduled for ten days later, with the Public Service Commission (PSC) exam requiring a verified response from the Fisheries and Livestock Department.
