Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Corrupt officers of Public Works Department (PWD) have devoured whopping funds amounting to Rs 670 million in the name of fake development schemes in PWD.

As many as 10 officers got sanctioned funds from the concerned authorities against the fake development schemes which did not exist on the ground at all. This heavy corruption was committed at the end of 2013 and its report has been made public now.

Billion of rupees were plundered from national kitty in the name of bogus development schemes. The Supreme Court (SC) also took notice of this loot and plunder spree.

Physical audit of Peoples Works Programme (PWP) Phase-II was conducted under the orders of court. Its report has been presented before the court and in the Parliament now.

According to audit report Chief Engineer North Islamabad had committed corruption amounting to Rs 277.89 million in the name of 25 fake schemes and documentary evidences in this regard has come to light. Engineers of Central Civil Division Faisalabad committed corruption of Rs 142 million in the name of 108 fake schemes and looted national coffers. These engineers drew Rs 105 million from national exchequer in the name of one scheme and gulped the entire amount.

Corrupt engineers of Central Civil Division Lahore have pocketed Rs 47 million fraudulently against two schemes.

Central Civil Circle Faisalabad committed corruption of Rs 32 million against 40 fake schemes.

Likewise corrupt engineers of Central Civil Division Multan worked out 21 bogus schemes and drew Rs 27 million from banks fraudulently.

According to report Central Civil division Islamabad pocketed Rs 23.21 million in the name of 10 fake schemes while PCD Sahiwal withdrew Rs 5.8 million from national exchequer against 3 fake schemes.

Chief Engineer of Central Civil Circle Faisalabad withdrew Rs 1.5 million from bank against one fake scheme.

Project Civil Circle Lahore withdrew Rs one million from bank fraudulently against one fake scheme.

According to report presented in the court, corrupt engineers of PWD committed corruption of Rs 662.17 million against 212 bogus schemes.

The report revealed that even after the involvement of the corrupt officers in fake schemes corruption, the minister for housing and works has failed to recover Rs 670 millions from corrupt engineers and contractors and these corrupt officers are still performing their duties on respective seats and the same corrupt contractors are being awarded contracts.

The report has further said that ministry of housing and PWD have not blacklisted the contractors found involved in corruption and no action has been taken against the corrupt officers. On the condition of anonymity, a senior officer told Daily Times references have been sent to NAB for initiation of action against these corrupt officers and contractors, however, some contractors have obtained stay order.

Faisalabad stands at No 1 in the perspective of commission of corruption in the name of fake schemes, Islamabad No 2 and Multan at No 3 while no corruption has been committed in the name of fake schemes in Sindh, Balochistan and KPK.

When tried to contact spokesman of ministry of housing and works to seek his stance, no reply was received from him. When contracted NAB told Daily Times that investigation is underway in regard to corruption reference received from ministry of housing and works and action will soon be initiated against plunderers of national wealth.