Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Corrupt officers in the National Highway Authority (NHA) are said to be involved in a new scam where corruption of Rs 12 billion has been unearthed according to official documents. PC-1 of Sultan Baho Bridge was approved for Rs 1.50 billion but the officers paid Rs 42 million extra to contractors. Similarly PC-1 of Khushal Garh was approved in Rs 79 million while Rs 98 million was paid to the contractor.

It was also learnt that PC-1 of extension project Bosan Road Multan was finalised in Rs 33.4 million while the contractor was paid Rs 46 million extra.

Likewise, PC-1 of the extension project from Caranwala Chowk Multan to Bahawalpur Chowk was worth Rs 86 million while the contractor was paid Rs 30 million extra. According to documents, PC-1 of Hyderabad Road’s construction was approved in Rs 80 million while the blue-eyed contractor was paid Rs 1.39 billion.

Documents revealed that PC-1 of the extension of Benazirabad Road was of Rs 1.042 billion while the NHA’s officers concerned paid Rs 1.42 billion to the contractor.

According to the law, after the approval of PC-1, an increment in the cost of the project could not be made. Official documents state that PC-1 of Naudero Road was approved at Rs 1.93 billion but the contractor was paid Rs 3.18 billion. The PC-1 of the construction of roads and the construction of the project was approved at Rs 6.27 million while the corrupt officers paid Rs 9.37 million. Documents revealed that the consultant company of these projects was MSEA Consulting Company, which was responsible for ensuring that there were no changes in the design and cost of the projects. Construction company Zeeruk Limited was paid a hefty amount, and Arbab Alamgir was the federal minister at that time when these payments were made. Now the authorities have decided to investigate the scam.