Gilgit (PR): An important meeting of the Standing Committee of the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly on the General Administration Department (GAD), Finance, Revenue, Law, and Parliamentary Affairs Department Monday.
The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Standing Committee Javed Ali Manwa. Other participants of the included Haji Rehmat Khaliq, the Minister of Excise and Taxation, Suraya Zaman, the Advisor for Information Technology, Muhammad Saleem, Minister and Member of the Assembly, along with officials from the GAD Department.
A detailed presentation regarding the regulations for staff vehicles, encompassing the allocation procedure and utilization of government vehicles, was given to the Standing Committee of the G-B Assembly by the officials of the General Administration Department.
However, the Standing Committee expressed its discontentment with the presentation concerning the allocation and number of vehicles under the Staff Car Rules. The committee asked the General Administration Department to come with full preparation in the next meeting.
The committee inquired about the CC engine cars, in accordance with the staff car rules, that can be allocated to officers based on their grade. Additionally, the committee sought information on the protocols followed in other provinces and at the federal level.
The committee instructed the relevant department to furnish a complete and thorough report to the committee within a period of ten days. Furthermore, the committee mandated the concerned officials to present the details regarding vehicles provided to unauthorized persons in the next meeting.
The Standing Committee of G-B Assembly also expressed serious concerns regarding the majority of government vehicles in Gilgit-Baltistan, pointing out that they have not been officially registered with the Excise and Taxation Department. Additionally, even the registered vehicles are not undergoing the necessary renewal process. The committee has furthermore instructed the submission of a comprehensive report addressing this matter.
While speaking on the occasion, the Chairman Standing Committee on Finance Javed Ali Manwa remarked that numerous inadequacies in the staff car rules have led to the improper utilization of official vehicles in Gilgit-Baltistan. He added that these vehicles are also being allocated to unauthorized persons in violation of the proper merit-based process.
Javed Ali Manwa further instructed the General Administration Department to attend the committee meeting scheduled on August 30, 2013, equipped with completed details as per the given orders.
He vowed to ensure transparency by earnestly addressing these concerns. The committee’s findings will subsequently undergo House approval, to curtail the misuse of government vehicles and curb unnecessary expenditure in future.
