The alleged corruption came to light when wear and tear was reported on the 30-kilometre section of the road that had been completed.
The Anti Corruption Establishment Gujranwala region director on Tuesday directed police to arrest 18 Communications and Works officials, including the project director, for alleged Rs7 million corruption in a road construction project in Mandi Bahauddin.
Work on the project has been suspended since 2009.
The officials are accused of using substandard material in the construction of a 72-kilometre road for which the government had sanctioned Rs760 million.
ACE Director Yawar Hussain registered cases against the officials and set up raiding teams to look for the officials.
The alleged corruption came to light when wear and tear was reported on the 30-kilometre section of the road that had been completed.
During his visit to the city in January 2009, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was informed about the poor condition of the incomplete road. He had sought a report from the officials concerned and had directed the ACE director to hold an inquiry.
On Monday, the ACE director found 18 officials guilty of corruption. He issued their arrest orders on Tuesday.
The suspects are: Project Director (Engineering Cell) Safdar Raza, Deputy Directors Riasat Ali Malik and Muhammad Tariq, Assistant Engineer Muhammad Moosa, Humayun Shehzad, Muhammad Irshad, Consultant Engineer Muhammad Usman, Kashif, Site Inspector Muhammad Nadeem, Tariq bin Abbas, Muhammad Amjad, Tariq Niazi, Construction Engineer Younus Farooqi, Indus Associate’s Amanullah Khan, Associate Inspector Khursheedul Hassan, Sajid Ali, Materials Engineer Muhammad Ghani and Contractor Zafarullah.
According to the inquiry report, samples from the material used for the road were sent to a laboratory. The results revealed that substandard material was used.
Contractor ‘abandons projects incomplete’
Residents of Lala Musa have complained against a contractor working on a camping ground and a disposal station for allegedly abandoning the projects incomplete.
He is being accused of misappropriating Rs7 million.
Residents of the area said that both the projects had been started simultaneously in Sewerage Scheme-A three years ago. So far, only one-fourth of the project had been completed.
They said the roads in the camping ground area had been dug up but sewerage pipes had yet to be laid.
They said pumps and generators had also not been installed. The residents requested the commissioner to take notice of the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2013.
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