Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has taken strict notice of financial irregularities and malpractices of billions of rupees in Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Housing Society (OPFHS) and has constituted an inspection committee to visit the society and prepare a report for him.

According to information received by Daily Times from the PM’s House, PM Nawaz Sharif has taken this action on the application received from some unidentified overseas Pakistanis. He has sought a reply from the respective ministry. The committee visited the society and provided details of the questions to the acting managing director, asking him to furnish a reply soon. The directives for expediting the reply has caused embarrassment in the housing section and there is the likelihood that some record has been concealed.

Sources told Daily Times that the rate of the land ranged between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 per kanal when over 4,600 kanals were purchased during 1996, while OPF paid up to Rs 150,000 per kanal. Several agents were also engaged who used to work on the basis of commission. Development work was delayed from 2002 to 2006 because the commission rate could not be settled. Later, the contract was awarded to FWO. Sources said the present OPF incharge director housing was earlier picked up by NAB under the charges of corruption, but was released under a plea bargain. Soon after his release he was appointed as incharge of the same section.

On the other hand, OPF acting managing director is a dual national and spends several months every year outside the country. When contacted, Acting Managing Director Muhammad Yar Buttar told Daily Times that the inspection committee has undertaken a visit of the housing society and has sought a lot of details. “We are trying to furnish these details to them as soon as possible.” Responding to a question he said he was a dual national and this is in the knowledge of the institution. “This is a private institution and a dual nationality holder can work in it,” he claimed.

To a question about NAB, he said it had picked up the sitting director, Iqbal Shah, and directed that he not be appointed on this seat. “But there are some compulsions of the institution, as the persons outside it demand hefty salaries for this post.” Regarding FWO work, he said that 98 percent of the work has been completed and efforts are underway to accomplish the remaining work.