ISLAMABAD Reviewing the audit report of the Defence Ministry, Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Thursday, sought explanation from the Ministry about the alleged fuel hedging by PIA that caused loss to corporation. Chairing the PAC meeting, Ch Nisar Ali Khan termed it a serious issue in the year 2008 and viewed that experts on the very issue should deal with it. While defending the matter, MD PIA said that it was basically a requirement of the Religious Ministry as such things only happen on the occasion of Haj. He further said that national flag carrier did not get even a single penny from the government and no commission was involved in hedging. It is pertinent to mention here that PIA hedged 450,000 barrels fuel specifically for the purpose of Haj flights, MD PIA added. When a question was posed about privatisation of PIA, he admitted that it was on the list but some administrative reasons caused its delay. Quoting the Finance Ministers budget speech, Ch Nisar said that he also pinpointed some departments which were eating up the countrys economy. PIA, Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills and other organisations, Nisar said, needed transparency to strengthen the countrys economy. During the meeting, issues regarding women harassment by PIA officials also came under discussion on which MD said that a committee was probing the matter thoroughly. He further clarified another issue regarding the reports of a passenger who was travelling without ticket, and made it clear that no wrongdoing happened as the said passenger had valid ticket on the spot. Defence Secretary Lt Gen (R) Athar Ali told the PAC that if coalition support funding was delayed from allied countries then we will be compelled to review our strategy in war against terrorism. Nisar noted that defence spending of India had not been increased in a state of war at the proportion Pakistan had incurred during the war on terror. Secretary said that these expenses were increased during operation against terrorists in Swat, Malakand and Waziristan.