Onlykashmir.in News Desk
A meeting of the Committee on Public Undertakings was held at the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday under the chairmanship of MLA Mir Saifullah, bringing together legislators, senior officials, and the Accountant General to deliberate on strengthening legislative oversight over state-owned corporations and public sector enterprises.
The session was attended by legislators Ajaz Ahmed Jan, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Shafi Ahmad Wani, Rajiv Jasrotia, Mehar Ali, Reyaz Ahamad Khan, Arjun Singh Raju, and Rafiq Ahmad Naik. Senior officials present included Chairman of the Bureau of Public Enterprises Talat Parvaiz, Secretary of the J&K Legislative Assembly Manoj Kumar Pandit, Accountant General Tsewang Tharchin, and Director General of Accounts and Treasuries Fayaz Ahmad Lone, along with senior officers from the Finance Department.
At the outset, the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly briefed the committee on its mandate, outlining the key functions that include ensuring legislative control over state-owned corporations and public undertakings, reviewing the Audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General related to public enterprises, identifying financial irregularities or inefficiencies, and ensuring that public funds are utilised properly and economically.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman Mir Saifullah emphasised the critical importance of the committee’s role as a watchdog body within the legislature. He described the committee as a vital link between the government and the people, capable of identifying and addressing public grievances while ensuring that benefits from public sector investments reach citizens effectively. He called on all members to make the committee’s proceedings result-oriented and focused on achieving tangible outcomes.
The Accountant General delivered a detailed presentation on the powers, procedures, and responsibilities of the committee, providing members with a comprehensive understanding of how the body functions and what tools it possesses to examine the performance of public undertakings.
Members engaged actively in the discussions and submitted suggestions on strengthening the committee’s operational procedures and enhancing its capacity to monitor public sector enterprises effectively. The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to promoting greater accountability, transparency, and efficiency across J&K’s public sector.
The Committee on Public Undertakings plays a particularly important role in the J&K context, where a large number of state-owned enterprises operate across sectors ranging from transport and power to housing and urban development.
