ISLAMABAD (MEDIA)
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) under its prevention regime has found hiring of consultants for 3G/4G Spectrum auction not in line with PPRA rules.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has hired the three consultants on hefty salaries ($700,000, about Rs70m) is in violation of the PPRA rules and without the knowledge of the authority.
The NAB has taken a notice on a scam after appearing it in The News filed by Investigative Editor, Ansar Abbasi last week on the issue of auction of 3g Spectrum and as well as regarding the controversial appointment of chairman PTA, the removal of the CEO Universal Service Fund and his replacement by the son of top most rulers and the appointment of the member law in the ministry of information technology.
The NAB has advised PTA to ensure adherence of PPRA rules and asked for confirmation till December 26, 2012.
In a letter to secretary ministry of information technology, the NAB Spokesman Zafar Iqbal said the NAB has asked for detailed presentation to the chairman NAB on January 01 on the issues of tax evasion, SMS GST evasion, Universal Services Fund, E-Governance and Auction of Broadband frequency.
The NAB has identified tax evasion by the cellular companies because of absence of forensic auditing and facility of interlinking exchanges.
The bureau has also asked ministry of information technology to clarify violation of the rules by the cellular companies for charging 19.5 % SMS GST.
The NAB under its prevention efforts is endeavoring to bring transparency and fair play in tendering process of the projects, auction and procurements in close coordination with the regulators.
The NAB was of the opinion that exercise is aimed at strengthening the regulatory mechanism in the country at large.
It is to be mentioned here that the Prevention and Awareness regime of the NAB while taking a suo moto notice of 3G PTA scam has summoned the top officials of the ministry of information technology, PTA and all the relevant stake holders and get a briefing on the issue.