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PM Imran seeks details of state money’ use by all federal departments

PM Imran seeks details of state money’ use by all federal departments
July 5, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has sought a detailed report of state money consumed by all federal ministries and departments of the government. The directive is being linked to trace if the bureaucracy had got involved in misuse of authority, misappropriation, corruption and money-laundering. Sources in the federal finance ministry told Channel 92 that the premier had ordered all the departmental heads to submit details and documents regarding usage of official money and loans. They said the departments had been asked to submit as how many loans have been obtained from the banks and how those loans had been consumed. Similarly, the ministries and departments have been questioned about the amount of supplementary budget and its spending. The premier’s office has further asked the departments to submit details of foreign procurement and up to what extent the foreign exchange reserves declined because of such procurement. How much foreign exchange linking to procurement was consumed in money-laundering? The explanation has also been sought to inquire about the objections raised by public and audit accounts committees over use of official funds. Were any penalties imposed on the officers responsible for mismanagement of state funds? Sources said the departments had so far obtained loans worth over 15,000 billion from banks and that the government had assured guarantee against those loans. Of loans obtained from the banks, half of the loan amount is linked to energy-related projects; over 30 percent loans are payable by the communication ministry; while rest of the loans were utilized by the allied wings of the cabinet division Islamabad. Sources further said the same loans were staggering around Rs12,000  billion in November 2018 and the pace of returning debt had slowed down in the last four months.