NAB Issues Advisory for Public Sector Universities Over Irregularities

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has issued an advisory for various irregularities prevalent in different public sector universities of Sindh along with the recommendations compiled in a document. The advisory was issued under Section 33 (C) of National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

The advisory has been addressed to the Principal Secretary, to Governor Sindh and has also been sent to the Government of Sindh through Secretary Universities and Boards for dissemination and implementation.

The advisory followed an inquiry conducted by NAB, on the allegations of various malpractices and irregularities prevalent in the University of Karachi. The inquiry concluded in highlighting aberrations and breaches of rules and regulations on a range of administrative and financial matters.

The financial irregularities included payment of leave encashment granted to all the employees, whereas only retiring employees are entitled to it. Payment of overtime salary to senior officers, non-budgetary expenditures, account handling of provident fund, procurements without observing SPPRA rules, weak internal audit & financial control mechanisms were some of the financial aspects highlighted in the advisory document.

Besides that, the document also advised the university authorities on the better management of its assets in order to fetch the highest revenues for the institution.

NAB has formulated recommendations on a very important aspect of appointments as well. The document highlights the irregularities in appointments of university employees, which includes:

• Appointment without advertising vacancies and selection after bypassing the competitive process,
• Over-recruitment beyond the sanctioned posts,
• Award of higher grades and,
• Non-adherence to HEC’s requirements.

The university authorities have also been advised to comply with the directions of Supreme Court of Pakistan, contained in various reported judgments on the subject of appointments.

It has also been advised, that the universities may streamline their rules and regulations in correspondence with the government’s rules and the Supreme Court’s directions. The advisory document requires that NAB should be informed about the implementation of the aforementioned recommendations in due time.