Lack of department heads complicates PAC proceedings

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is facing difficulties in examining audit objections as senior government officials increasingly skip meetings and send junior officers to represent their departments.

Instead of department secretaries and other senior officials being summoned, Additional Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and Section Officers frequently appear before the committee.

The practice has raised concerns among committee members, particularly over whether subordinate officers have the authority and information required to respond to questions involving billions of rupees in public funds.

PAC Chairman Iftikhar Chachar has taken notice of the repeated absences, stating that officials specifically summoned to attend meetings must appear in person.

He said the situation had begun improving after he started questioning absent officials and warning of possible reprimands. Departments are also required to inform the committee in advance if a summoned officer is outside the country or city, provide evidence of their absence and nominate a representative.

The committee is currently examining audit objections for the financial year 2023-24, involving amounts reportedly running into billions of rupees.

The absence of senior officials can complicate proceedings, particularly when junior officers are unable to provide authoritative explanations, access complete records or make decisions on behalf of their departments.

The PAC plays an important role in scrutinising government expenditure, identifying financial irregularities and ensuring accountability for public funds. The committee maintains that the presence of responsible senior officials is essential to address audit objections effectively and prevent delays in parliamentary oversight.