PAC Probes Rs 231.4M House Rent Irregularity at FUUAST, Investigates Illegal Faculty Appointments
Nadeem Tanoli
ISLAMABAD – The Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) is under Public Accounts Committee (PAC) scrutiny over the irregular and unauthorized payment of Rs 231.492 million in house rent ceilings to employees between 2001 and 2013, in clear violation of government rules.
Audit findings revealed that payments were made directly to employees rather than to homeowners, residential properties were not properly assessed, and official rental ceilings were ignored. Although the university management claims the practice has now been discontinued, the PAC has ordered the production of all relevant rent assessment records for audit verification before any settlement of the case.
The committee is also examining the irregular appointments of two senior faculty members, Dr. Abd-ur-Razaq Memon and Dr. Muhammad Naeem Ullah, both hired without public advertisement. The audit noted that Dr. Memon’s monthly pay package of Rs 300,000 was set without mandatory consultation with the Finance Division. The PAC directed the university to provide eligibility criteria, service tenure, and publication records for both faculty members, and to secure Senate approval for their appointments as required under a 2017 directive.
Additional audit paras against FUUAST include the irregular payment of Rs 9.235 million in Evening Shift Allowances, and a loss of Rs 2.182 million from subletting university premises at rates lower than those paid to WAPDA. The PAC has instructed the university to ensure recoveries where applicable and to implement stricter compliance with financial and hiring regulations to prevent future breaches.
News Link: FUUAST Faces Scrutiny Over House Rent Payments and Faculty Hires – Peak Point
News Liknk: PAC probes FUUAST rent, hiring irregularities – Minute Mirror
