QUETTA: A key session of the Balochistan Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Asghar Ali Tareen, reviewed audit objections related to the Quetta Safe City Project, Prisons Department, and Information Department.
The meeting was attended by PAC members including Wali Muhammad Noorzai, Ghulam Dastagir Badini, Muhammad Khan Lehri, Safia Bibi, and Ayaz Mandokhail, along with senior officials from various departments.
During the initial review, the committee raised strong concerns over unauthorized awarding of a contract worth Rs 2.280 billion and financial discrepancies amounting to Rs 9 billion in the Safe City Project.
Members noted that the project was wrongly assigned to SCO instead of NRTC, despite NRTC securing higher technical and financial evaluation scores — marking a clear violation of the Balochistan Public Procurement Rules (2014).
Chairman Tareen criticized the project’s failure, stating: “Out of 800 cameras, 600 remain non-functional.
Even after spending billions, public safety has not improved — a glaring example of mismanagement.” Committee members also expressed dissatisfaction over departmental responses.
PAC announced it will conduct a field inspection of the project and directed the Chief Secretary to complete an inquiry within one month — warning that failure to comply will lead to the case being referred to NAB.
Additionally, the committee ordered full recovery within 15 days regarding unauthorized advance payments totaling Rs 230.335 million.
Reviewing the Prisons Department audit, the committee expressed anger over financial losses of Rs 11.327 million and instructed officials to submit a progress report within a week.
The Chairman emphasized improvement in clean water access, medicines, and inmate rehabilitation facilities, while recommending that prison staff allowances be aligned with other government departments.
Audit findings against the Information Department also drew sharp remarks.
PAC highlighted that no tax deduction was made on Rs 424.754 million worth of advertisements from 2018–2021 — resulting in a concerning Rs 56.518 million tax lapse.
The Chairman called excessive advertising expenditure “deeply regrettable for a financially struggling province,” instructing the department to ensure tax recovery and eliminate unauthorized bank accounts.
Concluding the meeting, Chairman Asghar Ali Tareen reaffirmed that the PAC is committed to strengthening transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline across provincial institutions, stressing that violations of rules will not be tolerated, and all departments must comply within prescribed timelines.
