Corruption, mismanagement: Investigation starts against Sukkur’s urban services company
NAB seizes records to inquire into alleged mismanagement, corruption
PHOTO: National Accountability Bureau
SUKKUR:
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has initiated an investigation into alleged mismanagement and corruption by the North Sindh Urban Services Corporation.
The provincial government had tasked the company to improve infrastructure and ensure provision of water supply, drainage, sanitation and solid waste management services in the upper Sindh cities of Sukkur, Rohri, Shikarpur, Khairpur and Larkana.
An official of NAB Sukkur, requesting anonymity, revealed that investigation has been initiated against NSUSC in all five cities where the utility has been working for around five years. The official shared that all records pertaining to development projects, awarding of contracts and consultancy, on-ground work and mode of payments have been confiscated. He further said that experts are also inspecting development work done on the ground to ascertain whether the work is up to the standards.
Since its establishment in 2011, the company has spent funds to the tune of billions of rupees on water supply, drainage and sanitation; which is apart from doling out exorbitant salary packages and overstaffing under political influence, the official claimed. The record of development works in all five cities is being scrutinised, after which action will be taken against responsible persons, he added.
From reports of the non-merit appointment of a managing director to repeated complaints by citizens of inadequate civic facilities, the company has repeatedly been mired in controversy ever since its inception.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2016.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has initiated an investigation into alleged mismanagement and corruption by the North Sindh Urban Services Corporation.
The provincial government had tasked the company to improve infrastructure and ensure provision of water supply, drainage, sanitation and solid waste management services in the upper Sindh cities of Sukkur, Rohri, Shikarpur, Khairpur and Larkana.
An official of NAB Sukkur, requesting anonymity, revealed that investigation has been initiated against NSUSC in all five cities where the utility has been working for around five years. The official shared that all records pertaining to development projects, awarding of contracts and consultancy, on-ground work and mode of payments have been confiscated. He further said that experts are also inspecting development work done on the ground to ascertain whether the work is up to the standards.
Since its establishment in 2011, the company has spent funds to the tune of billions of rupees on water supply, drainage and sanitation; which is apart from doling out exorbitant salary packages and overstaffing under political influence, the official claimed. The record of development works in all five cities is being scrutinised, after which action will be taken against responsible persons, he added.
From reports of the non-merit appointment of a managing director to repeated complaints by citizens of inadequate civic facilities, the company has repeatedly been mired in controversy ever since its inception.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2016.