Pak bureaucrat used 6,000 pounds from public exchequer to join golf club in UK

ISLAMABAD - A Pakistani bureaucrat posted at the country’s consulate general in Manchester had used official funds to secure the membership of a local golf club in 2007.

The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly was informed on Tuesday that the membership cost the public exchequer 6,000 pounds.

Hamid not only managed to win the post of Commercial Secretary, but also got approval for his club membership from then Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan whom he had earlier served as staff officer.
ocumentary evidence placed before the PAC by the audit department revealed that the club membership fee had been paid out of the Export Market Development Fund (EMDF), primarily meant to finance projects and activities aimed at promotion of exports.

Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood opposed recovery of the amount from the official, although he conceded that using government funds to secure membership of a golf club was unprecedented.

“He is a good officer and I don’t think he would be able to pay this amount,” The Dawn quoted him, as saying.

Hamid is about to complete his three-year term in Manchester. (ANI)