PAC to investigate “bureaucrats’ property purchases in Portugal”

ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) met on Tuesday to discuss recent remarks made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif about Pakistani bureaucrats purchasing property in Portugal.

During the session, PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar indicated that the committee would summon officials from the Ministry of Interior, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and other relevant authorities in the next session to review the issue.

Also read: Bureaucracy is defiling Pakistan: Khawaja Asif

“We will obtain complete records to determine which bureaucrats have acquired plots,” said Akbar.

KHAWAJA ASIF’S ALLEGATIONS

The defence minister had recently claimed that a significant portion of Pakistan’s top bureaucracy had invested in property in Portugal and was preparing to acquire foreign citizenship. The minister suggested that this raised concerns about the loyalty and commitment of public servants to Pakistan. He criticized these actions as a sign of systemic corruption and unchecked privilege.

Asif’s statement, made on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, specifically targeted high-ranking bureaucrats, some of whom, he alleged, had accumulated substantial wealth during their careers.

He particularly mentioned one aide to former Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar, who reportedly received up to Rs4 billion in salaami, a traditional wedding gift, at a family event. According to Asif, the official faced no scrutiny despite the large sum and is now living a comfortable retirement.

The minister also suggested that politicians were more accountable than bureaucrats, who, according to him, were able to acquire foreign assets and dual nationalities, unlike elected officials tied to the electoral process.

FATA TAXES AND HAJ FRAUD

The committee also turned its attention to the imposition of sales tax in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), deciding to request a detailed briefing on the matter in its next meeting. In addition, PAC members discussed the closure of utility stores and agreed to gather information on the reasons behind the shutdowns.

The committee also reviewed audit objections related to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, particularly focusing on an embezzlement case involving one of its accounting officers, Muhammad Kaleem. The officer allegedly misappropriated Rs12 million in remittances, causing significant financial losses to the ministry.

PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar raised concerns about the ministry’s oversight, questioning, “If an assistant accountant can commit such acts, what is the Director General of Hajj doing there?” In response, Dr Syed Attaur Rehman, the ministry’s secretary, informed the committee that steps had been taken to digitise the system to prevent further irregularities and improve financial transparency.