20000410

Cases of Saso

defaulters to be

referred to NAB,

says Soomro

KARACHI: Provincial Minister for Food and Agriculture Iftikhar Soomro has directed the Sindh Agriculture Supplies Organisation (Saso) to take steps for the arrests of loan defaulters of Saso and send their cases to National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

He issued these directive while reviewing the progress so far achieved for the recovery of Saso loans, said a news release issued here on Sunday.

The provincial minister also directed the administration of Saso to take steps for the arrests of the employees of Saso who were allegedly involved in embezzlement of Rs 187.890 of the organisation.

He further said that the properties of these employees should be confiscated and their cases sent to NAB.

The provincial minister also directed the divisional administration to issue last notice to the defaulters with warning for early clearance of their outstanding dues.

He said that after expiry of last date, cases for the arrest of these defaulters should be registered.

Saso has to recover Rs 187.072 million including mark-up from the loan defaulters.

The provincial minister said that the relief period announced by the government for the defaulters to pay loans has already been expired and now stern action will be taken as per law against those involved in looting national exchequer.

Iftikhar Soomro informed the participants that action against the loan defaulters should be taken across the board, as present government did not believe in any "Safarish" (recommendation), instead it wants to eliminate such culture from the society.

The provincial minister expresses his dissatisfaction over the steps taken so far for the recovery of loans from the defaulters.

The meeting was also attended by senior member Board of Revenue Manzoor Hussain Bhutto, Commissioner Sukkur Kalim Lashari, Commissioner Larkana Nazar Mohammad Mehr, Secretary Food and Cooperative Munawar Opal, Managing Director Saso Yousuf A. Mirza, additional commissioners of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas and others.ÑAPP