KARACHI: The president of Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh chapter, MPA Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, was elected unopposed as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the provincial assembly in its maiden meeting held on Monday.

The PAC comprises of six PPP members — Mr Khuhro, Makhdoom Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Qasim Soomro, Sadia Javed, Farukh Ahmed Shah and Khurram Karim Soomro — and only one opposition member, Muhammad Rehan Rajput, who belongs to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

At the outset of the meeting, PAC member Makhdoom Fakhar proposed the name of Mr Khuhro for the coveted slot of the chairman.

All PAC members, including the lone opposition representative, voted for Mr Khurho.

Only one opposition member is part of key oversight body of Sindh Assembly

The PAC is an oversight body whose aim is to detect and recover funds misappropriated by relevant officials, discuss audit reports and settle their objections.

Since the assembly’s watchdog does not have any significant representation from the opposition benches, it seems that government departments and its officials would continue to enjoy less accountability at the forum of the PAC.

From 2018 to 2023, the then PAC had gone without the participation of any opposition members during the previous tenure of the PPP-led provincial government.

Talking to the media after the meeting, the newly-elected chairman thanked the PPP leadership for nominating him for the slot.

He said that the PAC would monitor the expenditure and utilisation of funds in all provincial departments. “The PAC will not tolerate illegal use and mismanagement of public funds,” he warned.

“The amount collected through taxes paid by the people should be spent on their welfare,” he emphasised.

The PAC chief said that the committee would also review the auditor generals’ reports on government departments. “The committee will recommend action against officials found involved in the misappropriation of funds or any other irregularity,” he cautioned.

Faryal elected chairperson of PA panel on home

Senior PPP leader Faryal Talpur was elected as the chairperson of the Sindh Assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

Also, PPP’s Rehana Laghari was elected chairperson of the house’s Standing Committee on Rules, Regulations and Discip­line, while Farzana Hanif of the ruling party elected as chairperson of the Standing Committee on Cooperative Societies.

PPP’s Mehmood Alam Jamote was elected chairman of the Standing Committee on Forests and Environment.

Presiding over the first meeting of the Standing Committee on Home, Ms Talpur said that they would all work together to improve the affairs and initiatives of the home department.

“The committee’s work will be to keep an eye on all the issues in the home department and give suggestions for its improvement,” she said.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2024