Probe into 'Rs7.5b KMC irregularities' sought

KARACHI:

Billions of rupees are reportedly being spent on Karachi's development, yet broken roads, inadequate civic facilities and unpaid pensions remain part of the mega city's everyday reality.

Against this backdrop, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Deputy Parliamentary Leader Taha Ahmed Khan has called for an investigation into alleged financial irregularities in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), seeking scrutiny of billions of rupees allocated for development schemes.

In a letter to Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Nisar Khuhro, Taha, who is also a PAC member, demanded an investigation into the utilisation of Rs7.5 billion earmarked for 188 KMC development schemes.

He also called for transparency in development tenders worth Rs15 billion to Rs16 billion issued during the current financial year and sought an inquiry by the Chief Minister's Inspection Team (CMIT) into KMC development schemes and the tendering process. Taha said alleged irregularities and interference in the award of development contracts should be investigated, claiming that assertions about billions of rupees being spent on development projects remained confined to official documents. He alleged that development projects were being used to benefit select individuals at the expense of public money.