ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar revealed on Friday that the dam fund currently holds a substantial amount of over Rs17.86 billion and no withdrawal made from the account held at the State Bank of Pakistan so far.
In a written response submitted to the Senate on Friday, Dr Akhtar provided a detailed breakdown of the funds, indicating that Rs11.46 billion were directly contributed to the account, while an additional Rs6.29 billion were accumulated as profit on government investments.
During the Senate meeting, Dr Shamshad Akhtar clarified that funds in Chief Justice-Prime Minister’s Dam Fund account currently stand at Rs17.86 billion, and no withdrawals have been made so far.
She informed that any withdrawal from the fund would require a decision from the judiciary.
The Caretaker Finance Minister emphasized that the Dam Fund remains untouched, with no withdrawals made from the account held at the State Bank of Pakistan. This transparency and accountability in managing the Dam Fund’s resources are crucial for ensuring the effective utilization of funds in dam construction projects.
During the question hour session in the upper house, Senator Dr Dinesh Kumar said that he has heard that salary of the Governor of State Bank is Rs4 million.
Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar said that the State Bank is a corporate body whose board of governors deals with the bank’s affairs.
Palwesha Khan rued that the salary of a senator is Rs140,000 and wondered what great work the SBP governor performs that he is getting Rs4 million in salary.
The lawmaker sardonically said that the SBP governor only begs from the International Monetary Fund.
The finance minister said that the State Bank had introduced a policy asking its employees if they agreed to let go of their pensions, their salaries would be raised. The SBP introduced this policy because its pension liabilities were increasing. Dr Shamshad Akhtar said adding that the salary structure of the central bank is always very different all across the world.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said that in Islamabad, government offices and residences are provided with free electricity worth Rs10 billion annually.
The finance minister assured that her ministry would send notices to the secretaries of all ministries asking them to control their electricity expenditure.
Senator Behramand Tangi raised the point that the salary of a Supreme Court driver is even double than the remuneration of a lawmaker.
The Senate Chairman said that he would send this matter to the Law Ministry for deliberation.
