PAC Constitutes Committee To Probe Irregularities In Construction Of New

Islamabad Airport

Fakhir Rizvi Published August 16, 2016 | 07:05 PM

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th August, 2016) : The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday formed a four member committee headed by Ashiq Hussain Gopang to probe irregularities worth billions of rupees in construction of the New Islamabad International Airport, pointed out by the Audit Officials. The meeting of the PAC was held under the chairmanship of Syed Khursheed Shah to scrutinize the accounts of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for financial year 2013-14. During the meeting, Director General Audit for CAA informed the Committee that the contract of civil work on airport was given at cost of Rs 12 billion. He said that out of total amount only Rs 4 billion was paid to CAA and rest of the rupees eight billion was still pending against the contractor. He said that a report compiled by the Federal Investigation Agency was also on record with CAA, but no action was taken so far in this regard.

To this, Secretary Aviation Division Irfan Elahi said that the authority is taking actions against the involved persons. He further stated that the cost of New Airport has been increased from Rs 36 billion to 87 billion. DG Audit responded that the former Prime Minister had directed the CAA to complete the project till February 2013 but it could not be done. He said that the cost for construction of Cargo Terminal at Airport also exceeded from Rs 40 million to around Rs 1 billion. Briefing the committee about Pakistan International Airlines Premier Service, Secretary Aviation said that Premier Service would be launched from three more destinations. During the meeting, Syed Khursheed Shah Chairman PAC informed the committee that Chairman Senate will come along with six Senators in the next meeting of PAC.