SHC approached for inquiry into corruption in Gorakh Hill Station funds

No health facility, police station functioning in the area, petitioner claims

KARACHI: As the development of the Gorakh Hill Station remains incomplete, a citizen has pleaded to the Sindh High Court (SHC) to order an inquiry into alleged misappropriation of funds for the project. The SHC Hyderabad circuit bench issued on Thursday notices to respondents nominated in the petition for submitting reply on January 23.

Situated at around 5,600 feet above the sea level, Gorakh Hill Station is located in the Khirthar mountains in Dadu district. In 2010, the provincial government approved a development project worth Rs6 billion for the hill station. The cost, however, increased with the passage of time.

The petitioner, Advocate Gahi Khan Jatoi, a resident of Jamshoro district, pleaded the court to order the Gorakh Hill Development Authority (GHDA) to submit details of development expenditures, annual budget and funds contributed by oil and gas companies. He also requested the court to order the National Accountability Bureau for conducting an inquiry into the allegations of embezzlement in funds.

Citing the health and police authorities as respondents, the petitioner informed the SHC that neither any health facility nor any police station were functioning in the area. "... visited Gorakh hills in December, 2017, and observed that there were no facilities available for the tourists," the petitioner claimed.

Advocate Jatoi pointed out that the only rest house and restaurant present at the hill station offered very expensive lodging and meals.

"They charge Rs6,000 per night for a room and Rs2,000 per night for a tent," the petitioner claimed, adding that a plate of rice is sold at Rs1,500 and a small bottle of water at Rs250. "The roads are in very poor condition."

According to the petitioner, a building for the health facility remained incomplete while the police station in the hills was without any officer.

He also gave reference of an incident of fire at the hill station in December 2015, in which seven members of a family were burnt to death.



The SHC was informed that the GHDA was not allowing sale or purchase of land in the area and local people were being forced to vacate their abodes and leave the area. The court was also requested to order the Sindh government and GDHA to submit the land revenue record.

The bench ordered the GHDA chairperson to appear on January 23 in person along with the record of expenditures incurred during the last five years. The court also sought separate details of development budget and funds contributed by oil and gas companies. The respondents include the culture, tourism and antiquities secretary, NAB director-general, Dadu deputy commissioner and Dadu SSP.