MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Public Accounts Committee of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly held an important meeting to review audit objections and financial matters related to the Inland Revenue and Food departments.
The meeting was chaired by Abdul Majid Khan and attended by committee members, the Director General Audit, Secretary Assembly, Secretary Inland Revenue, Secretary Food and other concerned officials.
During the session, the Inland Revenue Department presented details regarding audit objections, recoveries, and settlements.
Officials informed the committee that the department faced audit objections amounting to approximately Rs 7.45 billion, out of which matters worth Rs 3.90 billion had already been settled, while efforts were underway to recover the remaining amount.
The PAC directed the department to resolve matters related to pending recoveries with the Finance Department within one week.
Regarding the Food Department, officials informed the committee that 56 audit objections worth more than Rs 2.76 billion were currently under review.
According to the briefing, recoveries amounting to Rs 48.7 million had been made, while cases worth over Rs 1.63 billion had already been settled.
The committee was informed that 24 audit objections had been disposed of, while 32 cases remained pending.
During the proceedings, it was also revealed that an audit objection dating back to 1987 was still under hearing. Officials stated that a motion had been made before the Senior Member Board of Revenue for the recovery of the outstanding amount.
The PAC directed authorities to provide formal audit and accounts training to Food Department accounts officers and emphasized that financial responsibilities should be assigned to qualified and experienced personnel.
The meeting further reviewed a matter related to tax exemptions granted between 2019 and 2022. Officials informed the committee that contractors were given exemptions amounting to Rs 1.2 billion regarding non-deduction of income tax under a cabinet decision.
After reviewing cabinet approvals, legal opinions, and related summaries, the committee declared the departmental stance valid.
