PTV audit body terminated over malpractices

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Television Corporation’s Board of Directors has terminated the services of internal audit committee of the organization due to malpractices in conducting false audits for the past many years that had caused billions of rupees loss to state-run TV channel.

This was stated by Chairman/MD PTV, Dr Shahid Masood before the Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting that met here on Saturday.

The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, which met at the Parliament House, expressed its serious concern over the lack of progress in recovering the long-outstanding dues/receivables of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) but at the same time lauded the role of Dr Shahid Masood for conducting thorough and transparent audit of the organization through international audit company, KPMG.

“This is public money which must be recovered at all costs and under all circumstances especially at a time of great economic crunch”, the committee observed. In response, according to sources, Chairman/MD PTV handed over the recently compiled audit report of the PTV to the members of the committee. The committee asked the Chairman/MD PTV to lodge FIRs against defaulters.

“It was also decided to take stern action against those PTV black sheep who had formerly looted the organization by making illegal contracts with fake advertising agencies”, said the sources. As per sources, Dr Shahid Masood also told the committee that if he were forced to resign, he would not claim the salary of six months from the organization according to legal contract, as the PTV was already being run under deficit.