Taking bribes: Agriculture officials accused of corruption

Ali said officials of revenue and agriculture departments go to villages and take Rs600 per form from the farmers

RISALPUR:

Residents and local government (LG) members of Kheshgi, Nowshera accused officials from the agriculture and revenue departments of taking bribes from farmers under a “kissan package.”

Muhammad Ali, the general councillor of Ahmad Nagar, Kheshgi Bala, said the government had started the Kissan Package to help farmers out, particularly ones who had suffered losses in the past due to erratic weather changes. He said officials of agriculture and revenue departments fill and submit forms for these farmers and take bribes from them for doing this work. They have also been accused of taking bribes – perhaps a larger amount – from those farmers who are not entitled to the package so they can reap mutual benefits.

Ali said officials of revenue and agriculture departments go to various villages and take Rs600 per form from the farmers. “Hundreds of farmers have given money to government officials for filling and submitting their forms which is really sad,” he said. “These officials are defaming the government,” Ali added.

He appealed to district nazim Liaqat Khattak and CM Pervez Khattak to take action against the corrupt officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2015.