Ahsan for setting deadline for submitting audited reports to PAC

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has urged several entities to establish a deadline for submitting audited reports to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) within a 12-month period following the conclusion of each fiscal year. At an event titled “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight – Public Accounts Committee,” the minister advocated for several reforms to enhance parliamentary oversight, bolster government accountability, and ensure timely action on audit findings.

In addition to proposing the establishment of permanent research teams within the PAC, comprised of experts in research, accounting, and data analysis, Ahsan Iqbal suggested that significant development projects should undergo regular real-time and risk-based audits, rather than solely being audited in exceptional cases. He emphasized the importance of assigning a clear deadline for the implementation of each PAC directive and introduced a digital system to monitor compliance with PAC directives by interlinking the PAC Secretariat with the Auditor General’s office.

A digital dashboard would display the progress made by government departments in adhering to the committee's instructions.

The minister proposed that Principal Accounting Officers (PAOs) who consistently disregard PAC directives should face consequences in their performance evaluations, with their Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) reflecting their compliance with the committee's recommendations. He also noted that development partners like UNICEF could contribute to the initiative through training, technical assistance, and providing necessary tools, although he stressed that Parliament and its institutions must also bolster their professional capacity.

The Auditor General’s office should evaluate not only financial spending but also the actual outcomes of crucial social sector programs, according to Iqbal. He further advocated for the PAC to focus on whether these programs are achieving their intended goals. The minister also called for improved coordination between the Auditor General’s office, the Planning Commission, and the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to ensure that audit findings contribute to enhanced development planning and budget decisions.

He stressed that projects with repeated failures and poor performance should be thoroughly audited before additional funding is allocated, with the aim of determining whether these projects deliver the expected results and merit further financial support.

Addressing national development priorities, Ahsan Iqbal treated stunting as a national emergency and stressed the necessity of achieving at least 90 percent literacy, asserting that no country had achieved development without first reaching this level of literacy. He expressed gratitude to UNICEF for organizing the event and providing an opportunity to explore ways to strengthen parliamentary oversight and improve accountability in public institutions.