Daily Times

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau Karachi has initiated investigation into the mal-administration and financial corruption in project for up-gradation of water treatment plants managed by Imtiaz Magsi, Project Director S-III, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

NAB in a departmental letter 200779/CVC-2412/1O-6/NAB (K)/2017/1537, July 27, 2017 has informed Managing Director of civic entity, Hashim Raza Zaidi on this effect. Muhammad Amir Butt, Additional Director Staff for Director General NAB has asked Water Board to furnish details of staff and contractors working from 2007 till date and details of PC-I of the project. He has also asked to submit the complete report of projects that have been completed and in-hand and has sought detailed information of revised projects and PCs for betterment of S-III project.

Hashim Raza has appointed a focal person, Mukhtar Ali Assistant Executive Engineer project S-III on behalf of civic entity to deal with the NAB during the investigation proceeding.

Hashim has also advised department officials to cooperate with NAB in connection with required papers, documents and file etc of the civic body for purpose of probe. It is pertinent to mention here that Central Development Working Party of federal government has already forwarded a revised PC-I having a cost of Rs 36.11 billion in this effect to Executive Committee of National Economic Council for approval.

From 2007 to date, more than Rs 6 billion has so far been spent on Lyari River conduit sewerage line under a segment of S-III project. NAB would also include this segment into its probe.

NAB would also probe into the financial misappropriation into eight segments of conduits under Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP-I), Haroonbad and STP-III Mauripur.

It is pertinent to mention here that STP-I and STP-III have remained non-functional since 10 years and 17 years respectively. The non functionality of these sewerage treatment plant projects have been attributed to the stoppage of funds from federal and provincial governments. NAB would also to start inquiry into the embezzlements which have occurred in K-III water project during 2001-2006.

Published in Daily Times, August 11^th 2017.