Review: Companies involved in past projects under scrutiny

G-B CM directs authorities to recover embezzled money

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rahman has taken notice of corruption in mega projects undertaken during the previous government’s tenure. He has asked authorities to recover money from the companies involved in the projects.

“Rahman isn’t happy with the development work done by the previous government,” a spokesman at the CM Secretariat said on Wednesday. “He wants the embezzled money to be recovered,” he told The Express Tribune.

According to officials, the chief minister has asked relevant departments to prepare a list of private companies that caused a loss to the national exchequer through corruption. Rahman made the comments after he was briefed by public works department staff about development projects initiated five years ago in Pakistan Peoples Party’s tenure.

The CM was informed the G-B Assembly’s new building was still incomplete, though the work was initiated more than five years ago, the cost of construction crossed the original estimate.

Similarly, the RCC bridge connecting Gilgit with Danyore area has not been completed yet, though it ended up costing more than the original estimate. The RCC bridge and assembly building were two of 106 incomplete projects, payments of which were made in advance by the previous government. “The corruption in these two projects is unprecedented,” Rahman remarked as he was given the presentation at his office by the public works department.

Rahman, whose cabinet was sworn in on Wednesday, asked authorities to complete the projects in one year.

The CM asked his staff to ensure the repair of wooden bridges in order to make them a tourist attraction. According to officials, the chief minister asked the authorities to start work on the two bridges at Chinar Bagh. In addition, he also ordered widening of “River View Road” to facilitate residents of Baseen area.

“The next step would be the provision of clean drinking water to Zulfiqarabad and other areas,” said the CM.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2015.