05-14-2010, 12:25 PM
LAHORE - Punjab Accounts Committee one Thursday took serious notice of the irregularities to the tune of millions of rupees in the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).
Chairman of the Committee Punjab Assembly Opposition leader Ch Zaheerud Din heading meeting of the committee found from various paras of the audit department of the authority that irregularity of Rs1500 million have been clearly identified against the LDA but the officials concerned have never taken note of that. It came to the Committee knowledge that three petrol stations in Liberty Market and Gulshan-e-Ravi had completed their lease period over the last one year but they were still operating earning lakhs of rupees without paying single penny to the LDA.
It also came into notice of the Committee that no plan was prepared by the LDA to auction land of the said stations. When a question was put to the Director General LDA on the reason of this delinquency, he told the Committee that the auction would be carried out within a month and that notices have been served on the owners of these stations.
On being asked to produce record of the lease period as well as notice issued to the owners of the petrol stations, the DG failed to produce any record in this behalf on which Chairman of the Committee showed his fury and directed the DG to produce the same within 24 hours and also tell about the loss suffered by the national exchequer from the stations and recovery of the same be made.
The PAC Chairman questioned that who are the people so influential that even the DG is helpless before them. The Chairman remarked that the official staff remains quiet against the defaulters of billions of rupees while it does not spare a person who owes money to the department for five marla plot or even for the water bill.
Chairman of the Committee Punjab Assembly Opposition leader Ch Zaheerud Din heading meeting of the committee found from various paras of the audit department of the authority that irregularity of Rs1500 million have been clearly identified against the LDA but the officials concerned have never taken note of that. It came to the Committee knowledge that three petrol stations in Liberty Market and Gulshan-e-Ravi had completed their lease period over the last one year but they were still operating earning lakhs of rupees without paying single penny to the LDA.
It also came into notice of the Committee that no plan was prepared by the LDA to auction land of the said stations. When a question was put to the Director General LDA on the reason of this delinquency, he told the Committee that the auction would be carried out within a month and that notices have been served on the owners of these stations.
On being asked to produce record of the lease period as well as notice issued to the owners of the petrol stations, the DG failed to produce any record in this behalf on which Chairman of the Committee showed his fury and directed the DG to produce the same within 24 hours and also tell about the loss suffered by the national exchequer from the stations and recovery of the same be made.
The PAC Chairman questioned that who are the people so influential that even the DG is helpless before them. The Chairman remarked that the official staff remains quiet against the defaulters of billions of rupees while it does not spare a person who owes money to the department for five marla plot or even for the water bill.