REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL
WELFARE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
ON
TO PROBE THE FINANCIAL EMBEZZLEMENT AND
BUNGLING COMMITTED BY THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE EXECUTION OF “TAWANA
Presented by
SENATOR MOHAMMAD ENVER BAIG
(CONVENER SUB-COMMITTEE)
SEPTEMBER 2008
SENATE SECRETARIAT
SUBJECT: REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL WELFARE
AND SPECIAL EDUCATION REGARDING TO PROBE THE FINANCIAL EMBEZZLEMENT AND
BUNGLING COMMITTED BY THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE EXECUTION OF “TAWANA
The
Senate Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Special Education in its
meeting held on
Composition
(i)
Senator Mohammad Enver Baig (Convener)
(ii)
Senator Mrs. Semeen Siddiqui (Member)
(iii)
Senator Mrs. Rehana Yahya Baloch (Member)
(iv)
Senator Iqbal Zafar Jhagra (Member)
(v)
Senator Dr. Khalid Mehmood Soomro (Member)
(vi)
Senator Shuja-ul-Mulk (Member)
Terms of Reference
To
probe the financial embezzlement and bungling committed by the officials
involved in the execution of “Tawana Pakistan Project (TPP)”
2. TPP
was aimed at mobilization of girls of poor districts of the country towards
schools through offering free meals and food supplements. The objectives were
supreme and the cause was indeed nobel and much desired. While giving approval
to the project, Government had the aim to roll it over to other areas of the
country.
3. The commitment of the Government
(2002-07), with the project through approval of RS. 3.6 billion was therefore
quite obvious. What happened afterwards will however, remain a history. A
callous and repeatedly irresponsible attitude of most of the officials and
departments involved directly and indirectly with this project including the
Minister of that time, Secretaries (with exceptions) and National Project Directors
(NPD) was shocking and unbelievable. The waste of public money/tax payers
money, violation of relevant rules, regulations and set norms and procedures at
a senior level speaks of their remorse towards law and the poor people of this
country.
4. A careless and non serious
approach of the National Steering Committee (NSC) which could meet only once
during the first phase of the project (2002-2005), speaks of low priority of
both central and provincial governments on the project. This also signals a
lack of ownership of the stakeholders, both at Federal and Provincial level.
The project appears to be marketed poorly due to which it failed to raise the
awareness and generate sufficient interest of local governments as well.
5. The planning commission (PC) which
is responsible to approval PC-I and undertake c a quarterly evaluation of
projects funded from the PSDP, failed to honor its duties. Rather than
intervening during the currency of project when lots of apprehensions were
being raised by various quarters, PC rather preferred giving blatant powers to
the NPD to make the expenditure. At that time the project had already been
suspended on account of serious allegations of bungling, poor execution,
delivery and its questionable structure.
6. The sub-committee conducted
hearings on 19th July 2008 and 23rd August, 2008 questioned
the top officials involved directly or indirectly in this project including the
former Minister of Social Welfare and Special Education (SW&SE). Minutes of
both the meetings are enclosed as per Annexures A & B. The sub-committee
perused the reports of Auditor General and Prime Minister’s Inspection
Commission and detailed representations on the project. The detailed responses
of the officials of the M/O SW&SE and the Planning Commission on the
questionnaire provided by the sub-committee were also perused. The
sub-committee, after undertaking detailed and lengthy deliberations has
observed the following;
(i)
Poor Institutional Systems in place, both at the ministry
and planning commission level which lacked the structure to closely monitor,
assess and evaluate the expenditure and performance of the project. Or the
systems failed to signal the wrongdoings at such a high scale at a proper time.
The higher authorities were found reacting too slowly and too little.
(ii)
No remorse was observed across the board, for the relevant
rules, regulations and law on hiring of staff, selection of officers, purchases
and bidding processes etc. Blatant interference from the Minister to have
favors on various accounts through nepotism and graft, resulting into poor
management of such an important project.
(iii)
Siphoning the project money to the refurbishment of Ministry’s
offices, Minister’s residence, fictitious billings on car maintenance, bogus TA/DA’S,
inflated telephone bills, unauthorized medical treatment, refurbishment of
rented office accommodation at exhibitory high prices.
(iv)
Sudden change of menu without undertaking pre-project test
and evaluation from the cooked meals to delivery of packed milk and biscuits
and that too expired and not fit for human consumption. This is despite knowing
the logistics nightmare in the remote areas of the country.
(v)
Large scale expenditure on publicity and promotion of the
project beyond the budgetary layouts and without any justifications remains
highly distressful. Relevant procurement rules were violated and even nobody
knows where those expensive bill boards/publicity materials could be found.
Relevant authorities are mum on these clandestine violations.
(vi)
Serious concerns on the capacity and ability to deliver on
the part of NPD and his team, concerned Principal Accounting Officers (PAO) of
M/O SW&SE and even those of Planning Commission were expressed by this
sub-committee. Apparently there is no provision in the present system for the
training and skill development of project directors and other key officials
involved in the execution of such projects.
(vii)
It appears that the Planning Commission had taken a back
seat as no proactive role was visibly played by it in this project to guide,
assist, assess, monitor and evaluate the project to steer it on the course,
originally envisaged with such a large layout of tax payers’ money.
(viii)
The role of Secretaries/ PAO`s of M/O SW&SE with few
exceptions, was far below than what is desired from the Government and as
required under the relevant rules, regulations and law. No proper controls were
put in place for early warning of wrong doings. The PPRA rules were repeatedly
violated by NPD while making purchases and awarding tenders, no action was ever
initiated by the PAO`s.
(ix)
Sub-committee appreciates the timely audits conducted by the
Auditor General’s office and the Prime Ministers Inspection Team and revealing
eye opening embezzlement of such a scale. The relevant Ministry has yet to
constitute a DAC to discuss the report. No wonder, why there is such poor tax compliance
in
(x)
Role of Planning Commission in this project remains below
standard, less professional and at times worrying. This raises some questions
as to why projects after the approval are left at the Mercy of executing
ministries, corrupt Project Directors and their cronies and are not truly
assisted and consistently evaluated, assessed, audited, guided and supported professionally.
After all this is public money and the beneficiaries are non else than own
countrymen. PC also appears to suffer from some inherent
lack of capacity and desired will to play an active role in executing the
schemes involving huge sums of tax payer’s money.
7. The Sub-Committee also likes to
express its concerns, worries and apprehensions that of a total of 551 projects
approved by the Planning Commission during period April 2002 to March 2006,
with a cost of Rs 106.50 Billion, few of them would be meeting the same fate as
of TPP. Due diligence by the PC and the relevant ministries is needed along
with putting in place the systems which could trigger the signals of
wrongdoings immediately.
8. Based on above observations, opinions
and inputs which the Sub-Committee received during the course of proceedings,
the following is recommended for an immediate action. The Sub-Committee would
be keen in knowing the action initiated on these recommendations by the
concerned agencies and departments on a regular basis.
Recommendations
(a)
In view of large scale financial irregularities on various
accounts, the matter may be referred to the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA)
to initiate criminal proceedings against the NPD Mr Irfanullah Khan. He has
been found as the main person responsible to damage the project through
committing irregularities, misappropriation, financial bungling and fraud
thereby causing colossal loss to the exchequer and damaging the credibility of
Government before the public.
(b)
M/o SW&SE and FIA may undertake immediate and stern
action to recover the embezzled public money which was spent on bogus purchases
through fictitious bills and by violating the rules, regulations, procedures
and law. The advance payments made to the suppliers of various items and the
advances extended to the officers/officials working in the project may also be
recovered without further waste of time.
(c)
The Auditor General’s office may conduct detailed and an urgent
audit of the first phase of project i.e. for the period of 2002-2005. DAC may
be convened at the earliest to initiate action on the AG`s report which is
already with M/o SW&SE. The Sub-Committee may be informed on the progress
accordingly.
(d)
The official conduct of relevant Secretaries/PAO`s who
failed to notice massive irregularities, kept their eyes closed, failed to initiate
action or intervene timely in the wrongdoings, may be thoroughly investigated.
The role of the Minister of that time Mrs. Zubeda Jalal needs to be
investigated without which the objectives of the whole exercise will remain
unmet.
(e)
All those factors may be surfaced which prevented the
Planning Commission to raise fingers and remaining a silent spectator during
the currency of this project. This needs to be examined as to why the wrong
doings were not pointed out, corrected and re-balanced during the mandatory
quarterly reviews.
(f)
The matter of allowing release of funds by Planning Commission
when the implementation of project was suspended needs deeper investigation to
unearth the factors behind such a casual approach towards public money.
(g)
Planning commission to re-visit and have a re-look on its
manual for the projects and may take a leadership role and challenge to the law
full execution and expenditure. Committees of neutral persons from outside the
government sector may also be encouraged to oversea the expenditure,
implementation, service and delivery of such projects.
(h)
The Secretaries/PAO`s of relevant ministries may be held responsible
in case of any misappropriation and wrongdoings are detected in the projects of
their ministries. Ministers may be sensitized on this issue and the Secretaries/PAO’s may be encouraged to stand
by the truth and merit.
(i)
The Project Directors and Secretaries/PAO’s need extensive
capacity building and skill development to enable them to deliver qualitatively
and timely and to spend public money judiciously and honestly.
(j)
The Project Directors qualification does mater but the
relevant experience, integrity profile, selection through open and transparent
process and past referrals on executing similar projects rather matter more
which may therefore be given due preference. The Planning Commission may evolve
new instructions, procedures and processes to make such things happen.
|
Shahiq Ahmad Khan (Secretary Committee/ Additional Secretary) |
Senator Mohammad Enver Baig (Convener Sub-Committee) |
Annexure-A
SENATE SECRETARIAT
SUBJECT: MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL WELFARE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION HELD ON
A meeting of the
Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Special
Education was held under the convenership of Senator Mohammad Enver Baig on
2. The agenda before the Committee
was as under:-
(i) To
consider the Audit Report of Tawana Pakistan Project (TPP);
(ii).
Any other item with permission of the
Chair.
3. The following
Members of the Sub-Committee also attended the meeting:-
(i)
Senator Shuja-ul-Mulk
(ii)
Senator Dr. Khalid Mehmood Soomro
4. The list of the
participants from and ex-officials of Ministry of Social Welfare and Special
Education is annexed herewith.
5. The
meeting started with recitation from the Holy Quran. The Convener of the
Sub-Committee welcomed the Members and other participants and informed about
the background of the constitution of the Sub-Committee which has been
formulated to consider the audit report of Tawana Pakistan Project thoroughly.
He asked the ministry to present their presentation on the subject.
6. At the outset, Senator Shuja-ul-Mulk
complained about non-receipt of notices and working-papers in time from the
Senate Secretariat. The Convener took a serious note of it and advised the
Secretary to look into the matter.
7. Former Secretary of M/o. SW&SE
Dr. Aleem Mehmood informed that the Tawana Pakistan Project was running with a
number of financial as well as administrative irregularities. As at time of
inception of this project, a lot of nepotism and favouritism was adopted and
such officers were appointed who misused the funds. On a question, he said that
Dr. Nasir Jalil and Mr. Irfanullah Khan remained Project Directors on this
project. He also said that both the project directors ignored the advice of the
Law and Justice Division on proper disbursement of funds. He said that he took
over the charge of the M/o. SW&SE in 2004 and informed that no base line
survey was conducted for comparison of health in children in different
districts/cities in this case. He said that certain changes were proposed in
PC-I but nobody considered them.
8. Mr. G.M. Sikandar, Secretary M/o. SW&SE,
informed that Mr. Hafeez ur Rehman, Additional Secretary Cabinet was also
called to attend this meeting but due to death in his family he could not do so
but his written report is available with the Ministry. The former Project
Directors Mr. Irfanullah Khan submitted a medical report while Dr. Nasir Jalil
is out of the country. He said that initially this project was started in 2002
with total funds of Rs.1616 million and Dr. Nasir Jalil was its first Project
Director who left in 2005. He said that Rs.616 million, Rs.431.240 million and
Rs.200 million were released in 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively and as such
total 1247.240 million was released for these three years. In 2005 the project
was suspended but it was restarted on pre-test basis and the funds were
allocated in March 2006 but the pre-test started in March 2007. This project
was again suspended in November 2007.
9. While
speaking on the project former Secretaries Dr. Aleem Mehmood, Mr. Rasool Buksh
and Secretary incumbent Mr. G.M. Sikandar M/o. SW&SE pointed out that
Planning Commission was never approached for its approval and it was launched
unauthorizedly. At the time of suspension of the Project, an amount of Rs.571
million was in balance which was illegally transferred to Pakistan Baitul Maal
and then to National Bank of Pakistan. This procedure was absolutely against
the norms and financial rules of the government. Former Secretary Mr. Rasool
Buksh pointed out that after the suspension of the project, funds should had
been surrendered which was not done but transferred to PBM. Dr. Attiya
Anayatullah and Ms. Zubeda Jalal had been the Ministers and Mr. Irfanullah Khan
and Dr. Nasir Jalil were the Project Directors during this time.
10. Mr.
Zamurrad Khan, MD of PBM also criticized the mishandling of this project and
said that this project remained in existence for about 20 months and Rs.600
million were spent out of which only Rs.180 million were utilized for the real
purpose and the balance Rs.420 million was embezzled among 20 to 25 persons. He
further informed the Sub-Committee that millions of rupees were illegally paid
in cash to individuals ignoring all government rules and regulations. He said
that TV artist namely Firdous Jamal had also received Rs.25 million in cash
whereas Rs.200 million in cash was granted to M/s. VITA Bread (EMS) and M/s.
MAZA. On a question, Mr. G.M. Sikandar, Secretary informed that M/s. VITA Bread
(EMS) was approved by former Secretary (Mr. Naeem Khan) whereas MAZA was
approved by the Project Director Mr. Irfanullah Khan. During the meeting, the
Committee was informed by Dr. Aleem
Mahmood that on the influence of a present lady Senator, her daughter was
appointed in this project on monthly salary of Rs.5,000/- which was increased
to Rs.40,000/- per month within two months and she also has a sum of Rs.7.3
million as outstanding advance against her. The Committee was also informed
that under this project some medicines were imported and health project was run
in collaboration with
11. Raja
Raza Arshad, Member (PMIC) / Secretary Environment was advised to provide a
copy of a report which he prepared in this regard.
12. Mr. G.M. Sikandar, Secretary
informed that the DSC should have been conducted which was not done and the
matter was sent to the Public Accounts Committee directly
13. While giving the background of Project
Director of the Project Mr. Irfanullah Khan, former Secretary Dr. Aleem Mehmood
said that a post of grade-20 was created for which the minimum criteria was PHD
degree or its equivalent but on the recommendation of former Prime Minister
Shaukat Aziz who launched this project, Mr. Irfanullah Khan was appointed
though he did not fulfill the requirements. He said that Mr. Irfanullah khan
was also not fit to do any government job as per medial report of Brig. Moadat
Rana, Psychiatrist, MH Rawalpindi. This person has many contacts with high
levels. About 60% cases are still pending against him. He is the main figure in
all embezzlement and frauds done in the project.
14. In
the end the Convener of the meeting showed his displeasure and took a serous
note of irregularities and embezzlement in Tawana Pakistan Project and said
that this Sub-Committee will probe into the matter thoroughly. He said that
that next meeting will be held on 23rd of August 2008 in which all
relevant persons from government and public sectors may be called to present
their points of view (list attached).
15. The
Sub-Committee advised the Ministry to place the name of ex-Project Director of
the Project, Mr. Irfanullah Khan on “ECL” as soon as possible.
16. The meeting ended with a vote of
thanks to and from the Chair.
|
Sd/-- ( Shahiq Ahmad Khan) Additional Secretary/ Secretary Committee |
Sd/-- ( Senator Mohammad Enver Baig) Convener Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee
on Social Welfare and Special Education |
SENATE SECRETARIAT
SUB: SUB-COMMITTEE
OF THE SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL WELFARE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
List of concerned
persons to be called
to attend
subject meeting scheduled to be held
on
1. Mr. Shaukat Aziz, Former Prime Minster of
2. Dr. Attiya Anayatullah, MNA, Former
Minister;
3. Ms. Zubeda Jalal, MNA, Former Minister;
4. Mr. Naeem Khan, Former Secretary M/o.
SW&SE
5. Mr. Hafeez
6. Dr. Nasir Jalil, Former Project Director
TPP,
7. Mr. Irfanullah Khan, Former Project
Director, TPP,
8. Mr, Firdous Jamal, TV Artist
9. Brig. Sarfraz, Former MD, PBM,
10. Dr. Ikram Shaikh, Former Dy.Chairman of
P/Commission;
11. Mr. Qasim Parlay,
12. Chairman of VITA Bread (
13. Chairman, MAZA,
14. Concerned officials of NBP
Annexure-B
SENATE SECRETARIAT
SUBJECT: MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL WELFARE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION HELD ON
A meeting of the
Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Special
Education was held under the convenership of Senator Mohammad Enver Baig on
2. The agenda before the Committee
was as under:-
(i) Further
discussion on the Audit Report of Tawana Pakistan Project (TPP);
(ii).
Any other item with permission of the
Chair.
3. The following
Members of the Sub-Committee attended the meeting:-
(iii)
Senator Mrs. Semeen Siddiqui
(iv)
Senator Mrs. Rehana Yahya Baloch
(v)
Senator Dr. Khalid Mehmood Soomro
(vi)
Senator Iqbal Zafar Jhagra
4. Senator Mrs.
Kalsoom Perveen attended the meeting on special invitation whereas Senator Mrs.
Gulshan Saeed attended as Observer.
5. The list of the
participants from and ex-officials of Ministry of Social Welfare and Special
Education as well as from other departments is annexed herewith.
6. The
meeting started with recitation from the Holy Quran. The Convener of the
Sub-Committee welcomed the Members and participants and asked the Secretary
Social Welfare & Special Education to brief the Committee on the agenda.
The Secretary gave a detailed and comprehensive presentation. During the
presentation he informed that Dr. Nasir Jalil, Ex-Project Director of Tawana
Pakistan Project who was called to attend this meeting, was out of country.
7. Senator Kalsoom Perveen showed her
anguish on some news aired on different TV channels and in print media against
her and her family soon after the last meeting of the Sub-Committee on
8. The
Convener of the Committee told Senator Kalsoom Perveen that this Committee was
constituted to look into the affairs of Tawana Pakistan Project and the
Ministry of SW&SE had provided sufficient documents to the Committee. The
Convener also said that Senator Kalsoom Perveen has already moved a privilege
motion against the Secretary of SW&SE. He ensured the
Senator that the Sub-Committee did not intend to involve the person of the
honourable senator but that it was the intention of the Sub-Committee to
thoroughly probe the matter to identify and take remedial action on the issue.
9. The former Federal Minister of SW&SE Ms.
Zubeda Jalal strongly condemned the media campaign run against her and wanted
an apology from them otherwise she has an option to go to court. She absolutely
denied the allegations imposed on her. She explained that she took-over the
ministry for SW&SE in September 2004 as Federal Minister. At that time she
noticed that there was something terribly wrong with the project as 80% of
funds were being spent as administrative expenses and only 20% reaching the
target areas i.e. the children. Under these circumstances, she immediately
stopped the project and ordered Third Party Evaluation. She was not aware as to
whether the report / recommendations of this Evaluation were implemented or
adopted because of her departure from the ministry. She took strong exception to the figurers
shown in the presentation that Rs.36 lac has been spent on mineral water for
the ex-Minister. The Secretary SW&SE clarified that the amount was not 36
lac but 3.6 lac. The presentation also reflected certain amounts spent on her
official residence. She offered every one including media to visit her
ex-residence No. 11 in the Minister’s Enclave and challenged that they show her
any such elaborate repair / renovation. She also observed that as for the
insinuation that she had patronized certain people. She clarified that she had
requisitioned the services of Mr. Irfanullah Khan in the Education Department
for literacy programme for which the Officer’s record was impressive. She had
no interest beyond that and she did not transfer the said person or
requisitioned his services as Project Director of the project. She also
explained that the job of the Minster is to take policy decisions and
administrative matters are looked after by the Secretary/PAO who has a whole
bunch of bureaucrats of different ranks working under him for the purpose. She
took only policy decisions and was not involved in the nitty-gritty of tendering
advances or approvals etc. She informed the Committee that Dr. Aleem Shaikh,
Ex-Secretary, SW&SE bore a personal grudge against her as he was posted out
as OSD during her tenure although she was not responsible for it. He therefore
gave a distorted picture. The Convener requested the Ex-Minister to provide
copies of news articles appearing against her in the press and a written
statement to clarify her position if she so wishes within a week.
10. Dr.
Akram Shaikh, former Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission said that this
project was very beneficial for the poor children of the country as far as the
concept was concerned. The execution of the project however remained dismal. He
said that Secretary being the Principal Accounting Officer can play a vital
role in running of the government as PAO and likewise any project. It is a bad
luck of the country that every one points out the shortcomings in a project in
question and do not pay heed to its merits. He blamed the present
Secretaries/PAOs that they spare their time to pin point negative aspects of
the projects/job which was not the practice in his era. However, he said that
he once informed the SW&SE that all their projects including TPP were
running at a slow pace without giving any progress. Finally, he admired the
aims and objectives of the project and proposed that it should be continued for
the welfare of children and the weaknesses identified should be removed rather
than abandoning the project.
11. Mr.
Naeem Khan, former Secretary of SW&SE said that there were a lot of
difficulties in running the project with regard to distribution of cooked foods
especially in remote areas and for this reason packed foods/juices etc. were
preferred. The project could not run in Balochistan due to bad law & order
situation too. He was having the reservation that expenses of the project
should be utilized with the ratio of 20% for administration purpose and 80% for
feedings. The funds were transferred to
12. Mr.
Irfanullah Khan, ex-Project Director of the project said that he joined in
February 2005 and Dr. Aleem Shaikh was the Secretary at that time. He condemned
the behaviour of the media and said that he and his family are under stress due
to allegations. He said that the project was run very successfully and there
was no misuse of funds. In fact, problems started when Mr. Rasool Buksh
took-over the charge of the ministry as Secretary. He said that in the meeting
of CDWP, the proposals made by him (Mr. Irfanullah Khan) were appreciated and
approved and for this reason Mr. Rasool Buksh did not like it and he separated him
from the project and appointed Dr. Nasir Jalil as Project Director. He said
that according to ECNEC decisions, the Project Director has the powers to
utilize Rs. 100 million and he always performed the job according to rules. He
said confidential inquiries were conducted against him by the ministry. During
his whole tenure, not even a single memo, explanation letter etc. was ever
issued to him. Certain inquiries and audit, special audits were conducted but
he was neither heard nor called to explain his position. He said that proper
method of special audit was not followed. The enquiry conducted by PMIC was not
in his knowledge as he was never called. He said that this Committee is the
first forum where he has been called to explain his position and he thanked the
Committee accordingly. He blamed that he was being punished just for the reason
that he belongs to a small province i.e. Balochistan. Various certificates,
letters of admiration and awards are to his credit. His projects are being
copied in
13. The
MD, PBM, Mr. Zumarad Khan said that out
of 60 crore rupees only 31% amount was incurred for the real purpose of the
project and balance 69% has been embezzled.
There is a need to identify those responsible for the same so that
public money could be recovered.
14. The
former MD of PBM, Brig (R) Muhammad Sarfraz said that there was a special
accounting procedure for this project and the procedures and instructions as
given by competent authority were duly followed and as such the funds were
transferred from TPP to PBM. These funds
were non-lapsable funds. Two officers i.e. MD, PBM and Director NIU were authorized
to run the account.
15. The
Convener of the Sub-Committee asked the representative of Agha Khan University
to give statement in writing on behalf of their organization if he so wishes
within seven days.
16. Mr.
Amjad Ali Noon, Chairman, PMIC said that a huge amount has been embezzled
allocated for the project and in this meeting every body is presenting a rosy
picture. There is a need to pin point the culprits.
17. Senator
Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said that there is a need to take action against the
responsible persons who embezzled the amount. He asked why no action was taken
in time in fact till now? He said that knowing that 80% funds were being spent
on administration and only 20% reaching the poor children was reason enough for
the matter to have been looked into and remedial action taken way back in time.
18. Senator
Mrs. Semeen Siddiqui said that the Secretary/PAO is the main responsible
officer of the ministry and it seems that PAO and Mr. Irfanullah are
responsible for all these proceedings. She said that
19. Senator
Rehana Yahya Baloch said that after listening to all this she is confused and
unable to understand the real position of the project even now. However she
said that this project is for the welfare of children and should continue. She also condemned the media campaign against
honourable Senators.
20. Mr.
Firdous Jamal, a TV Artist said that he is the MD of an advertising firm namely
“Baaz Creation”. In response to a tender of the project, the firm quoted their
bid for 20 million rupees which was the lowest one and was accepted. The
intention to bid for the project was the welfare of the children. All payments
were made to the firm through cheques as cash payment was not possible. Since
the tender was awarded to M/s. Baaz Creation after a fair and competitive bid
and all payments received by the firm (being a legal entity) through crossed
cheques, he felt that maligning the name of Firdous Jamal who was a known
person was malicious and resented it. A national song as required for publicity
and promotion of the project was produced by the firm after hectic efforts.
Recordings/shootings were arranged in far flung areas. Rs.13 million has already
been paid by his firm to TV channels to telecast the prepared national jingle.
A sum of Rs.2.2 million is yet to be paid to the firm by the project/ministry.
Payment certificates and “on-air telecast” certificates can be produced to the
Committee to prove his instance. He said that he wanted to do some thing for
poor people and children through this project and he did. The Convener asked
him to give his statement/reply in writing if he so wishes within seven days.
21. The
representative appearing from M/s. MAZA was a Japanese person representing a
22. The
representative appeared from VITA was also asked by the Convener to submit his
statement/reply in writing if he so wishes within seven days.
23. In
the end, the Convener gave a Questionnaire to the Secretary SW&SE and asked
him to submit the reply within seven days
24. The meeting ended with a vote of
thanks to and from the Chair.
|
Sd/-- ( Shahiq Ahmad Khan) Additional Secretary/ Secretary Committee |
Sd/-- ( Senator Mohammad Enver Baig) Convener Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee
on Social Welfare and Special Education |