Islamabad:
An audit report, presented to the Public Accounts Committee (CAP), raised an objection on a loss of 4 billion rupees caused by the non-allocation of 1,250 acres of land by the Port Qasim authority (PQA).
According to the Auditor General of the Pakistan Report (AGP), a rental contract for 1,250 acres of land has been signed between Port Qasim and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).
In 2021, a decision was made to cancel the rental contract. However, the government’s decision to cancel the lease was not implemented for two years. A reimbursement of 4 billion rupees was not made at PTCL either. The 1,250 acres of land has not been reassigned.
The Maritime Secretary Affairs told the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) that the question of this land lease was 19 years old and that the land had remained with the PTCL from 2006 to 2021.
“It was initially given to the PTCL for having established the industrial zone of the textile city. The PTCL did not develop the industrial zone during these 19 years. After the cancellation of the lease, this 1250 acres plot is now taken up,” he added.
According to the secretary, the PQA will also erase the expenses in circulation of PTCL.
PAC president, Junaid Akbar Khan, asked how much income had been generated from the 1,250 acres lease. Port Qasim officials replied that 901 million rupees were received once, and 621 million rupees are still due. The CAP subsequently ordered the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to resolve all questions related to the audit within six months.
