CDA under fire: NAB wants closer look at PFOWA land

Accountability body authorizes inquiries against NGOs, INGOs

ISLAMABAD: One non-governmental organisation’s move to lease out an amenity plot to a school for commercial purposes has attracted the attention of the country’s apex anti-corruption watchdog.

An Executive Board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), taking notice of reports of corruption and embezzlement of funds provided to local and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the country.

NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has sought a report from a host of government departments including Economic Affairs, Interior and Foreign Ministries about the organisations and funds they have received.

Moreover, it wants to know more about how an organisation in the capital sub-let land for commercial purposes at throwaway prices.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had in 1996 leased 10 kanals of land to the Pakistan Foreign Office Women Association (PFOWA) in Sector H-8 of the capital for charity work.

The PFOWA is a registered welfare and a charity organisation which is run by spouses of Foreign Service officers. Per their lease agreement, the NGO was supposed to complete construction work on the plot by 2009.

In 2014, on directions from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the CDA relaxed its rules and allowed the charity to establish a commercial school on the plot under a joint venture.

Instead of starting charity work under a joint venture, the PFOWA handed over the property to a private school, in contravention of CDA rules. Later, the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat had recommended that the civic body cancel the lease of the land in view of PFOWA’s violation. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2018.