PWD uplift projects: National Assembly panel concerned at embezzlement

[Salman]

PWD uplift projects: National Assembly panel concerned at embezzlement

National Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Works expressed serious concern over embezzlement, corruption and mismanagement in development projects of Public Works Department (PWD). The Committee also concerned over the still vacant posts of federal secretary of Ministry of Housing and Works, Managing Director (MD) of Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF) and Director General (DG) of (PWD) and directed the Ministry to immediately fill these positions.

The Committee met with Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari in the chair at Parliament House on Wednesday. State Minister for Housing and Works Usman Ibrahim, Rajab Ali Khan Baloch, Sahibzada Faiz-ul-Hassan, Nawabzada Mazher Ali, Tahira Aurangzeb, Khalida Mansoor, Nighat Parveen Mir, Faqir Sher Muhammad Bilalani, Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan, Tahira Asif and Qahar Khan Wadan MNAs; and Officers/Officials of Ministry, FGEHF, Pak-PWD, Estate Office, NHA, PHAF and NCL attended the meeting.

While briefing the Committee, Acting DG of Pak-PWD Ataul Haq said that there was corruption in the development projects of PWD. He said, "There is 57 percent rate of corruption in the development projects.

He said, "Most of the scandals of corruption were detected in the projects related to Multan, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur."

He said that many ongoing projects have been halted due to non-release of funds and litigation."

It is necessary to mention here that according to media reports, as many as 20 officers of PWD including acting director general have been suspended on corruption charges.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to initiate inquiry against the officials on multi-billion-rupee corruption in Peoples Works Programme (PWP-II). More stunning than suspending 20 officers in one go is the appointment of a grade 19 officer as acting director general (DG) of Pak-PWD, which is a grade 21 post. Afterwards, Ataul Haq Akhtar has been appointed as Acting DG PWD.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, the Committee also directed DG (Pak. PWD) to bring complete details of all the embezzlement cases with their latest status in the next meeting.

The Committee observed that the condition of all the Federal Lodges in the country, being maintained by Pak-PWD is shockingly bad, despite the fact that they get their maintenance funds in every financial year. The Committee asked the Minister of State to intervene in the matter personally for their graceful preservation. The Committee also asked the Minister to take immediate steps for the release of salaries of the employees of Pak-PWD which have been stopped for the last five months.