The Karachi Development Authority (KDA) reportedly incurred losses amounting to hundreds of millions of rupees due to unauthorised road cutting by a contractor of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
The Secretary of KDA established a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the alleged involvement of KDA officials in the unauthorised road cutting spanning over an area of more than 10 km near Malir Dam, where the SSGC contractor laid pipes without obtaining necessary approval.
Despite legal notices issued, the road cutting persisted, with KDA officers falsely assuring higher authorities that the work would cease. The director-general of KDA expressed strong displeasure at the officials who misled the institution and decided to take strict action against those responsible for the significant financial loss.
After the inquiry, cases are likely to be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Anti-Corruption Establishment.
Details reveal that KDA incurred a loss of Rs220 million due to the unauthorised road cutting by the SSGC contractor, who commenced cutting more than 10 km of road and laying large gas pipes adjacent to Malir Dam without KDA’s approval. Upon receiving information, the Chief Engineer of KDA took immediate action to halt the unauthorised road cutting and damage to Malir Dam.
The SSGC was instructed to deposit the challan for recovery of the amount and cease further road cutting. Despite this, the road cutting work resumed after a brief pause, with KDA officers allegedly conspiring with the contractor.
Director-General of the KDA, Syed Shujaat Hussain, initiated a strict inquiry against the officers involved in illegal road cutting and facilitation. Secretary KDA, Behzad Amir Memon, formed a three-member investigation committee, headed by Superintendent Engineer Mohibullah Jaffri, with Executive Engineer Amir Qureshi and Deputy Secretary Zeeshan Jafri as members.
The committee was tasked with conducting an inquiry and submitting a report within seven days. Upon completion of the inquiry, cases against the officers are expected to be referred to NAB and the Anti-Corruption Establishment.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2024.
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