ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sub-committee meeting today discussed multiple issues brought to the forefront, including financial irregularities within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and concerns surrounding Islamabad Club’s membership process.
The meeting was chaired by Member of National Assembly (MNA) Aamir Dogar. The sub-committee closely reviewed the Cabinet Division Audit Report 23-2022, which highlighted several financial irregularities involving billions of rupees related to the fifth and sixth rendition of Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Key findings in the report revealed that the PCB had awarded non-transparent contracts in several areas, including the graphics interface and truck branding rights. The report also pointed out a live streaming rights contract worth Rs 180 million for PSL 5 that was granted in a non-transparent manner. Similarly, the Instadia sponsorship rights contract for PSL 5, valued at Rs 330 million, also lacked transparency.
In both cases, the individuals responsible for the irregularities were no longer employed by the PCB at the time the audit was conducted. According to the audit authorities, the PCB had failed to provide complete records for review, an issue which was acknowledged by the Secretary of the Cabinet Division.
PCB TO RESOLVE ISSUES WITHIN 60 DAYS OR FACE FIA PROBE
The PAC sub-committee directed the Cabinet Division and PCB to resolve these matters within 60 days. If no resolution is reached and those responsible for the irregularities cannot be identified, the cases will be referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further investigation.
The CFO of the PCB explained that the financial issues were rooted in the time period during the Covid-19 pandemic, when operational challenges were at their peak.
ISLAMABAD CLUB’S MEMBERSHIP AND ADVANCE FEES
In addition to the PCB’s financial matters, the sub-committee also addressed an ongoing issue at the Islamabad Club, where an advance fee of Rs 310 million has been collected from applicants for new memberships. The Club administration confirmed that there are currently 1,019 applications pending for five years.
The Secretary of the Cabinet Division informed the sub-committee that the number of members at Islamabad Club had surpassed 10,000, leading to a backlog in membership applications. The Club is considering increasing the membership limit to 12,000 to accommodate the rising demand.
OVERCROWDING CONCERNS AT LAHORE GYMKHANA
The sub-committee also touched upon the issue of overcrowding at the Lahore Gymkhana, with Riaz Fatyana, a member of the sub-committee, expressing concerns over excessive memberships that had reportedly led to the decline in the club’s facilities.
The meeting ended with a call for swift action on these issues, with Aamir Dogar reiterating the need for accountability. The PAC sub-committee will reconvene in the coming months to monitor progress and ensure that corrective measures are implemented.
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