ISLAMABAD (Sept 10)– Fourteen vehicles donated to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for 2005 earthquake relief are set to be auctioned off. Donated by Iran and Spain, the vehicles were never used due to a lack of funds for maintenance and fuel.
According to Audit Report, 13 vehicles including 10 ambulances and on X-Ray plant, one operation theatre and on Mercedes Bus were donated by the Iran in 2005 in connection with rehabilitation of earthquake affeetees. The same were handed over to the PIMS in 2006.
Audit observed that all the vehicles had neither been unutilized nor surrendered to the Cabinet Division Car Pool for their distribution to any other agency. The assets are at risk of loss in terms of productivity because of continuous negligence on the part of the PIMS.
In 2009, the management of the PIMS stated that the vehicles could not be used due to shortage of funds for the petrol and maintenance. Further, the letter of donation of the vehicles were also not provided by the donaor countries.
In April 2025, again PIMS management stated before the audit team that the hospital team received 14 vehicles from Iran and Spain during the earth quake 2005 out of which 6 ambulances were registered with the ETO. However, 8 vehicles were not registered with the ETO Islamabad due to the non availability of original documents. Directives were issued for auction of the vehicles.
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