Balchistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch. PHOTO: REUTERS
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has vowed to put an end to the corrupt practices in the Balochistan Development Authority (BDA) where massive embezzlement of government funds has been reported.
“The government will carry out a transparent investigation, fix responsibility and bring the embezzlers to book regardless of their power and political influence,” he said.
Dr Baloch was responding to different motions in the provincial assembly on Friday regarding the misappropriation of funds meant for the development schemes.
The cost of Quetta Water Supply and Sewerage Project has swelled from Rs7.0 billion to Rs24 billion due to massive irregularities, he said.
He informed the House that the officials and their political bosses laid down pipelines first without knowing the sources of water for those lines. It was done first merely because it involved commission and kickbacks for the beneficiaries, both officials and political bosses.
The chief minister said that 1,400 people were illegally recruited in the BDA, an autonomous body which was supposed to earn its own resources.
Earlier expressing deep concern over the recent increase in prices of petroleum products, the Balochistan Assembly approved an adjournment motion to thoroughly debate the matter.
The house also adopted a resolution on water shortage in Quetta and alleged misappropriation in the water scheme.
The house also approved another resolution demanding the cancellation of the gas supply contract to Quetta from Mari Petroleum and Gas Company Zarghoon Gas Company which was a non-local company and giving it to local contractors.
Meanwhile, a 14-member delegation of Punjab Assembly visited Balochistan Assembly and witnessed the proceedings.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.
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