Irrigation dept hit by mega corruption scandal

KARACHI:

A mega corruption scandal involving billions of rupees has surfaced in the Sindh Irrigation Department, with Secretary Zarif Khero and other senior officials coming under the scrutiny of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The Sindh Irrigation Department has come under the strict watch of NAB, with NAB Sukkur formally launching two separate and extensive investigations into senior officials and influential individuals over allegations of corruption, embezzlement of government funds, misuse of authority and possession of assets beyond known sources of income.

As part of an investigation into alleged corruption involving government land belonging to the Irrigation Department, nearly 84,977.59 acres spread across five districts of Sindh have been identified.

According to NAB documents, urgent directives have been issued to revenue authorities to correct the records of the land, located in more than 500 dehs, and transfer it in the name of the Irrigation Department.

The details show that 38,854.72 acres are located in Dadu district, 22,958.64 acres in Sujawal, 12,519.78 acres in Jamshoro, 6,620.63 acres in Shaheed Benazirabad and 4,023.82 acres in Tando Mohammad Khan.