PAC perturbed over courts, NAB 'undermining' its authority.

ISLAMABAD -- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday expressed frustration over high courts and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) showing leniency to defaulters and corrupt individuals - a practice which, it thinks, undermined the authority of the apex parliamentary body.

'NAB has a soft corner for such people and high courts give relief to individuals who have squandered the wealth of the nation. This exercise defeats the purpose of the PAC tasked to root out financial irregularities in the system,' said PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan. The comments of the PAC chief came during a discussion on an audit report for the financial year 2021-22 of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Discussing the audit paras, the PAC directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFSR) to provide 10-year agricultural research records, especially details of all the PhD researchers and their salary packages.

PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan decided that the committee would not review the audit paras of the ministry in a protest for not conducting the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC). Mr Khan directed the authorities concerned to carry out the DAC immediately or face 'stern action'. He urged the authorities to conduct proper research on the agriculture sector which was the backbone of the national economy.

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