Daily Times

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has sought within 15 days a report from the Balochistan NAB director general on alleged illegal allotment of commercial and industrial land in Gwadar Industrial Estate Development Authority (GIEDA) in violations of rules, causing billions of rupees loss to the Balochistan government as reported.

The report was sought after the chairman ordered an inquiry into an alleged multi-billion scam featuring illegal land allotment in Gwadar, after reports of private individuals being allotted 3,167 acres of state land worth Rs 70 billion in the port city surfaced.

The alleged illegal allotment of industrial and industrial land in GIEDA put the development of Balochistan on stake and turned into an estate agency, as per the report.

During the initial scrutiny of record, it was found that the rules were ignored by the GIEDA while allotting commercial and industrial plots.

“The plots were distributed among blue-eyed persons with the help of facilitators.” Furthermore, the files of industrial plots were sold on the basis of personal likes and dislikes by rejecting the applications of eligible industrialists and potential investors.”

After the scam was exposed, however, the land was restored in favor of the Balochistan government.

Published in Daily Times, July 4^th 2018.