PAC wants PPP projects under CAG, to sound out audit watchdog

The Public Accounts Committee strongly favours empowering the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine investment, expenditure and profit aspects in public-private partnership (PPP) projects and has decided to call the full CAG before it soon to discuss how to technically empower the audit watchdog in this regard.

The move is significant as it comes in the backdrop of corruption allegations in various PPP projects in the past.

The private sector has so far been resisting the move but the committee's argument is that since public money is being spent even in PPP projects, it needs to be safeguarded.