ISLAMABAD: As the issue of perks and privileges of a state-owned enterprise’s CEO echoed in the House, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb Tuesday assured the Senate that accountability would be carried out and money recovered. PPP parliamentary leader in the House Sherry Rehman raised the matter on a point of public importance, citing the story by Ansar Abbasi published in The News in its Sunday edition and said while austerity was being observed, the CEO of a company enjoyed the perks and privileges of Rs335 million in less than three years.
She pointed out that the members of the boards in connivance with each other pocketed public money. Sherry said the colossal amount was spent on the CEO of Pakistan Reinsurance Company while politicians were jailed and held answerable.
“Being accountable is our duty, but I don’t want to create an environment where the civil servants are subjected to witch-hunt, as there are many who work with honesty. But again in bureaucracy, none is accountable and they also tar with one brush,” she contended.
She also talked of horrible audit and accounts details in the committee meetings and called for empowerment of parliament to audit the boards.
Responding to her, the finance minister said the prime minister had taken notice of the matter and formed a committee. “The name will surface and the recovery also be made. We want the government nominees in the related boards to come prepared and go through the documents,” he maintained.