ISLAMABAD: The Sub-Committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday came down hard on the National Logistics Cell (NLC) for purchasing a house in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) without advertisement, terming it a clear breach of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.

The meeting, chaired by Convener Moin Aamir Pirzada, was convened to examine audit objections related to the Ministry of Planning and Development for the financial years 2012-13 to 2015-16.

Audit officials informed the committee that the NLC had bought a residential house for Rs20 million to be used as an office-cum-residence without following PPRA procedures. They questioned how a residential property was allowed to be converted into an office and directed audit authorities to verify the NLC’s internal inquiry before the audit para could be settled.

NLC representatives told the committee that the property was still in use for official purposes and insisted there was no financial loss to the public exchequer, as the market value of the house had appreciated significantly over time.

However, Pirzada maintained that the violation of procurement rules warranted disciplinary action against the officer concerned and directed that the matter would only be closed once the audit verification report confirmed the inquiry’s findings.