The Public Accounts Committee has summoned the secretaries of Planning Commission and Ministry of Water Resources to explain the reasons behind the transfer of funds allocated for the Prime Minister's Solarisation Programme (PMSP) for agricultural tubewells from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to the Ministry of Water Resources in February 2024. A PAC meeting, chaired by senior member Moeen Amir Pirzada, was held at the Parliament House on Tuesday to examine audit objections relating to the National Food Security and Research Division for 2023-24 and 2024-25. Committee members and senior officials of relevant government institutions attended the meeting.

The committee expressed surprise while reviewing an audit objection concerning the transfer of funds under the agricultural tubewell solarisation programme. The secretary, National Food Security and Research, told the meeting that the decision had been taken by the Planning Division. The members directed that an officer from the Planning Commission be summoned to explain why the transfer was considered necessary. The PAC directed that Planning Commission and Water Resources secretaries brief the committee at its next meeting on all reasons and details related to the transfer.

The meeting also reviewed the ministry's audit report for 2024-25 and audit officials pointed out that a bonus payment lacked justification. The acting chairman directed the Ministry of Finance to submit a response on the matter within seven days. He ordered that if the ministry recommended recovery, the amount should be recovered immediately.

The members also expressed concern over violations of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). The PARC chairman informed the committee that some officials had already been dismissed over such matters and a departmental inquiry committee had been constituted. The PAC directed the PARC to take necessary action within three months and submit a report to it.