PTI Punjab white paper on PML-N ‘corruption’

Punjab opposition leader says people kept in the dark about status of projects

LAHORE: Accusing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of corruption of billions of rupees, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday issued a ‘white paper’ against ‘mismanagement and corruption’ of the PML-N government in deferent projects executed in different parts of Punjab.

The white paper, released by Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, listed 15 projects that it says have ‘failed’ owing to corruption and irregularities.

Rasheed said the worst part was that the people were kept in the dark and deprived of the actual status of the failed projects. “The PML-N government started numerous schemes like Qarz Utaro Mulk Sanwaro, Ashiana housing scheme, etc., but every scheme is part of corruption and irregularities.”



The paper lists the 969MW Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project on top “where Rs140 billion were spent initially. Later, the amount reached Rs450 billion”. “The government has spent a whopping amount on the project, yet it flopped.”

Another flopped scheme was ‘Sasti Roti’ on which over Rs70 billion were spent. Other such projects included the Rs700 million Youth Laptop scheme and the Yellow Cab scheme (no amount was mentioned).

The paper claims that annual deficit of Rs5 billion was found in the Metro Bus Service. Irregularities were also found in the Rawalpindi Metro Bus Service (again no figures were given). Youth Loan and Apna Rozgar schemes were also found to be flopped “owing to irregularities and corruption”.



“The PML-N initiated the Youth Helmet Scheme but it lasted only for three months. Similarly, Youth Ujala Scheme was started but it also flopped. After the Scooty Scheme, the PML-N government launched the Nandipur thermal power project with an initial outlay of Rs23 billion. However, the amount reached Rs120 billion “but the project could run only for three days”, the white paper says.

It adds Rs3 billion was spent on Chichoki Mallian power plant but the end result was the same. The Gadani power project also met the same fate and could not be started.

The Quaid-e-Azam Solar project was started with the aim to generate 100 megawatt but the project produces only 30 megawatt. The Liquefied Natural Gas project was started with much fanfare but owing to irregularities this project also flopped.



The PTI leader pointed out that the government’s claim of fairness in projects could be judged from the schemes like ‘Sasti Roti’.

“The scheme has been stopped but subsidised flour is still being given to members of the ruling party,” he said, adding: “The Sasti Roti Authority remained functional for several years though the project itself had been shelved.”

He said to attract the younger generation, the government started the laptop scheme, adding, the Punjab accountant general’s special audit report told the true picture.



The report revealed that on record a total of 5,738 laptops were distributed among students in Punjab. “Out of this, 1,771 students succeeded in getting them while CNICs of 2,081 students were found to be fake. There was no record of 1,181 students who were also given the laptops. In addition, 305 laptops were reported to be stolen. Moreover, there were reports that the laptops given under the scheme are being sold for Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 in the market.”