Punjab PAC to Address Long-Pending Audit Issues for Metro Bus Project
RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is set to review fifty-seven pending audit paras related to the construction of the Metro Bus project connecting Rawalpindi and Islamabad during a meeting scheduled for March 19 in Lahore. This development marks a significant step toward resolving procedural discrepancies that have lingered for years, highlighting ongoing accountability efforts in public infrastructure projects.
Project Overview and Historical Context
The Metro Bus project, which spans a total length of 22.5 kilometres, features a 10-kilometre elevated corridor in Rawalpindi and a 12.5-kilometre ground-level route in Islamabad. Completed within an impressive 13-month timeframe, the project was formally inaugurated on June 4, 2015, by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, with a total cost of Rs44.84 billion. Initially, the audit forum raised over 250 audit paras during its examination, but many were consolidated due to similarities, while others were dropped as untenable.
Delays and Procedural Nature of Audit Paras
The remaining 57 audit paras, described as largely procedural, have been pending for several years, primarily due to the absence of a functioning Public Accounts Committee forum. Sources within the Rawalpindi Development Authority, the executing agency for the project, emphasize that these outstanding issues are minor and procedural, with expectations that they will be settled during the committee's proceedings. The ten-year delay in addressing these paras underscores challenges in administrative oversight and forum availability.
Upcoming Committee Meeting and Implications
The upcoming PAC meeting on March 19 will focus on making decisions regarding the disposal of these audit paras, aiming to bring closure to long-standing audit concerns. This move is part of broader efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in public sector projects, ensuring that procedural lapses are addressed promptly to maintain public trust and project integrity.
