Karachi:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly has unearthed financial irregularities with the sum of RS2.45 billion in funds assigned for food, medicines, clothing and furniture supplied to the prisons of the province. The PAC ordered the provincial interior secretary to carry out an investigation and submit a report within a month.
The PAC, which met with its president Nisar Khuhro in the president, examined the 2019 and 2020 audit reports. Khuhro questioned the IG Qazi Nazir Ahmed prisons on the contractors awarded tenders by multibrison value of rupees for providing essential elements to prisons. He specifically asked about the quality of the three daily meals provided to inmates and the procedures established for quality controls.
IG Ahmed explained that the prisoners receive three meals a day in all prisons, and the quality of food is monitored by officers and medical judges. However, the PAC was not satisfied with the explanations of the prison authorities about the acquisition of items such as food, medicines, furniture and clothing, for which formal tenders had been issued. As a result, the PAC ordered the prison authorities to involve officers of the Sindh food authority to inspect food quality in several prisons, including the central prison of Karachi.
The PAC also raised concerns about a non -accounted for RS8 million, according to reports, Malir’s prison. The prison authorities affirmed that the money was used for maintenance and fuel, but the PAC requested detailed records within 10 days for verification.
The PAC member, Khurram Karim Soomro, also questioned the security measures in the Malir prison, raising concerns about the escape of a prisoner through a window despite the huge funds assigned for penitentiary reforms. The prison authorities did not provide a satisfactory response to the PAC regarding the incident.
Subsequently, the PAC ordered an internal audit of all Sindh prisons to investigate these financial discrepancies and guarantee responsibility.
