Another financial embezzlement by the officials of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was unearthed today when Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) reported that PTA officials enjoyed financial benefits and allowances amounting to Rs. 36.203 million in the year 2010-11.
According to onlinenews Auditor general of Pakistan in its audit report for 2011-12 has revealed that PTA management paid financial benefits to its officers violating the Finance division (Regulation wing) OM No (15) R-4/04 dated January 17 in which it has been stated that existing allowances should be merged with the new basic pay hence would cease to be admissible upon introduction of new pay scales except those allowances which have been shown in New pay scales, or any other allowance, which the competent authority may approve from time to time with the occurrence of finance division.
Audit report further revealed that Rs 9,749,785 was paid for recreation leave salary, Rs 7,565,490 paid for 41355-car allowance and Rs 10,652,982 paid under qualification incentive. Another amount of Rs 8,235,075 paid for general purpose loan.
Audit report observed that recreation leave salary and general purpose loan was granted in violation of Finance division instructions. These schemes were not approved from the competent forum even from the administrative ministry. As regards car allowance and qualification incentives these were not welfare allowances but part and parcel of the pay as a regular allowance and these allowances were not approved from the finance division.
In another case PTA paid advance house rent amounting to Rs 3.407 million for the period of twelve months to its officers during the year 2010-11. This advance amount of rent was in violation of the pay package of PTA. In the audit report it is observed that in some cases payment was made more than Rs 300,000 but income tax was not deducted at source.
Apart from AGP’s report, Chairman PTA – Dr. Muhammad Yaseen and his entire team is facing huge criticism from government’s institutions and media. In another episode, PAC has recommended to put Chairman PTA’s name in ECL along with his senior colleagues.
