AGP recommends closure of two projects of Rs1.4b

ISLAMABAD-Auditor General of Pakistan has recommended the closure of two projects, CPEC Support Project and Development Communication Project, costing around Rs 1.4 billion, under the Ministry of Planning. 

Since the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Support Project (CPECSP) is not achieving its objective therefore, it is recommended that an inquiry may be held in this regard and the project may be closed so that further wastage of public money may be prevented, said the Auditor General of Pakistan report 2021-22 available with The Nation.

On CPECSP, the audit report said the project titled “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Support (3rd Revised)” was approved by CDWP on 19.10.2017 with a total cost of Rs 732 Million. According to revised PC-I, major objectives of the project are to establish/strengthen China-Pak Economic Corridor Secretariat in the Ministry  of Planning, for overall coordination and implementation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects/activities in collaboration with the concerned line ministries. During the course of audit, it has been observed that the project employees are not working on the core objectives of the project rather they have been working as support staff to the chairman CPEC Authority.  The management replied that as per direction by the competent authority, all CPECSP officers and staff are currently working on the project activities as well the providing support to CPEC Authority, until the time is becomes fully functional, The reply is not acceptable as the management did not responds to the observations raised by audit. Similarly, the project titled “Development Communication Project” was started in 2013 and subsequently revised in 2018 and 2020 with revised cost of Rs 616.401 million. 

Article source: https://www.nation.com.pk/28-Sep-2022/agp-recommends-closure-of-two-projects-of-rs1-4b