CM inspection uncovers corruption in model village project

Six held over Rs75.9m loss as authorities launch wider probe

FAISALABAD:

A surprise inspection ordered by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has led to the arrest of six people, including a contractor and officials of the Punjab Rural Municipal Services Company (PRMSC), over alleged corruption and the use of substandard construction materials in an ongoing model village project in Toba Tek Singh.

According to official sources, a team led by the chief minister's Special Assistant, Shoaib Mirza, visited the project site and reviewed the quality of construction work.

During the inspection, the team allegedly found poor-quality construction materials being used, while laboratory tests reportedly failed to meet the prescribed standards.

Based on the inspection findings, the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) initiated action and arrested six individuals allegedly associated with the project. Those taken into custody include PRMSC Faisalabad Division Coordinator Hafiz Talat Mahmood, contractor Amir Nadeem, Muhammad Irfan, Site Inspector Muhammad Irfan Munir, Site Inspector Umair Asghar and Surveyor Umer Sufyan Qadir.

Deputy Director Anti-Corruption Faisalabad Muhammad Sarfraz Warraich said the suspects had been arrested after preliminary investigations allegedly established their involvement in causing an estimated loss of Rs75.9 million to the national exchequer.

He said further investigations were underway.

The allegations against the arrested individuals have yet to be tested in court, and no statements from the suspects or their legal representatives were immediately available.

The action comes days after the Punjab government ordered a high-level inquiry into beautification projects and Punjab Development Programme schemes worth billions of rupees in Toba Tek Singh to examine transparency and implementation.

Earlier this week, newly appointed Faisalabad Commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh, accompanied by Special Secretary Local Government and Project Director Punjab Development Programme Shahid Zaman Lak, paid an unannounced visit to several development projects in Toba Tek Singh.

During the visit, they met traders and local residents, heard their concerns and assured them that complaints would be addressed.

The commissioner reiterated that the Punjab government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards irregularities in development projects and stressed that maintaining construction quality in public welfare schemes remained a top priority.