Flood relief scandal: 40 bridges never built

A thorough investigation into the 2022 flood relief fund in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Dir Upper district has unveiled rampant embezzlement on a large scale.

The inquiry committee has recommended blacklisting the construction firms involved, recovering Rs360 million, and taking strict departmental action against the corrupt officials.

According to official sources, the federal government allocated funds to rehabilitate roads after the devastating floods in 2022. However, it has been discovered that these funds were misused, as 40 steel bridges approved by the government are nowhere to be found.

Last year’s floods wreaked havoc on the tourism sector in Dir Upper, causing significant losses. Roads leading to popular destinations such as Kalkot, Shringal, Tehsil Larjam, and Wari were washed away, isolating several mountainous villages from the rest of the district.

The Construction and Works Department of Dir Upper issued tenders worth Rs470 million for 22 projects using the emergency funds provided by the federal government. However, it has now come to light that substandard materials were used in the construction, and many of the projects were left incomplete.

The inquiry committee, formed by the provincial government under the deputy commissioner, has recommended severe action against the corrupt officials and contractors involved.

Imran Saeed Muhammad Zai, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) General Secretary for Dir Upper, highlighted that contractors submitted bills for areas unaffected by the floods and received payment for bridges that were never even built.

This scandalous revelation calls for urgent measures to rectify the situation and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

The committee has recommended strict action against the C&W officials as well as contractors.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2023.