KARACHI: National Accountability Bureau, Karachi has started probe into the gross financial and administrative irregularities committed by 32 Director Generals (DG)’s of Park and Horticulture Department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (P&HD KMC) from 2013 till date, NAB officials have reveled.
Earlier Secretary Local Government Sindh and Municipal Commissioner KMC in their respective inquiries in this issue had also found financial and administrative malpractices by heads of P&HD.
During the process and on their finding of involved in misappropriation of funds and other matters, Local Government Department had relived and transferred 13 such officials of P&HD, serving above grade 17 basic pay scale to other departments, KMC officials have informed.
On the other hand, on the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan, employees working illegally in other departments or non-cadre status have also been transferred to their original departments.
Abdullah Mushtaq of BPS-18, an employee of District Municipal Corporation west during his seven years stay in P&HD had been involved in gross irregularities.
The transfer of Abdullah from Town Municipal Administration and his acceptance in KMC is unauthorized since no orders for his transfer and posting has been issued from competent authority, KMC officials revealed. The MC latter transferred him to DMC west.
The Promotion of Abdullah on the behest of Abdul Jabbar Bhatti, Director HR&D to grade 19 was illegal and even the Sindh High Court (SHC) had also turned down Council Resolution of KMC in this regard and had termed this step illegal.
On this vacant post, SHC later directed the authorities to position Akhlaq Ahmad Baig, grade 19-official to keep the office chores smoothly.
Corrupt practices have surfaced on gross level in P&HD after the retirement of Liaquat Ali Khan DG P&HD, KMC.
During his 12-year tenure, he developed and built Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, Beach Park, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park,Jheel Park besides around 42 model parks in different parts of Karachi.
NAB Karachi has also started investigation against him but even after his retirement nothing has come to the knowledge about his alleged corruption.
Under his supervision, more than one million plant saplings and tree plantations had taken place.
Meanwhile acting DG P&HD Afaq Mirza, (BPS-19) has been temporally posted as Director parks.
Around 37 different parks are being run under KMC but no proper mechanism has been adopted to look after the welfare of these parks.
Even Group Captain (retd) Fahim Ahmad Baig during his 3-year posting as adviser to P&HD failed to suggest plausible work strategy for the development of parks and other recreation sites in city.
He has now been transferred as Principal Secretary to Deputy Mayor Karachi. It is pertinent to mention here that during the said period, development and modification of parks and other green sites within P&HD precinct were on papers only, revealed officials.
P&HD has 1,782 employees including 800 gardeners with an annual layout of around Rs 529 million.