Pakistan

Summary moved: Fresh push for shifting MoI’s explosives dept

Chairman PPDA had written a letter to the MoI requesting to shift the explosives department from Islamabad to Karachi.

Arif Rana May 11, 2013

According to sources, chief of the Explosives Department, Hussain Channa was the moving spirit behind the transfer. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:

A group within the ministry of Industries (MoI) allegedly involved in multi-billion rupee third-party certification scam has managed to initiate a summary for transfer of the explosives department from Islamabad to Karachi, reliable sources revealed.

The summary is endorsed by caretaker Minister for Industries Shahzada Ashraf Shaikh, and a final notification to this effect is likely to be issued on May 13 when the MoI Secretary Shahid Rashid resumes his file work.

Requesting anonymity an official stated that the Chairman Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Sami Khan had written a letter to the MoI requesting to shift the explosives department from Islamabad to Karachi.

Khan in his letter claimed that the shifting will make the work easier. When contacted, he said “I wrote a letter to MoI almost a year ago and have received no follow-up”.

All Pakistan CNG Association, however, differs with PPDA on the issue. It claims that the proposed plan would violate rules which demand maintaining head offices of all federal departments in Islamabad.

According to sources, chief of the Explosives Department, Hussain Channa was the moving spirit behind the transfer. The caretaker minister supported the plan and moved the summary to give it a practical shape.

It is alleged that in 2012, Channa emerged as a central character in third party certificate scam revolving around the issuance of licences for setting up CNG stations during a ban. An inquiry conducted on orders of MoI former secretary Shafqat Naghmi suggested strong punitive action against Channa including his dismissal from service. However, Channa managed to block the action against him from caretaker minister for industries. Channa also managed to persuade Shahzada that he could serve the office better if the explosives department was moved from Islamabad to Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2013.