Islamabad, Mar 11, 2025: A major corruption scandal has surfaced at Punjab University’s Institute of Education and Research, exposing significant financial misconduct and fraudulent hiring practices.
According to an initial inquiry report, substantial financial irregularities have been uncovered, particularly in leasing valuable commercial properties.
The findings indicate that six high-value commercial shops were rented out at drastically reduced prices to selected individuals without following proper bidding procedures.
Moreover, these leases were granted indefinitely, violating university policies, and the security deposits meant for the university treasury were allegedly misappropriated by officials involved.
The key individuals implicated in this mismanagement include the former head of the department, an associate professor, and several staff members.
Additionally, a separate probe into fraudulent recruitments at Punjab University has been handed over to the Anti-Corruption Department for further investigation.
The initial report recommends a thorough inquiry and strict disciplinary measures against those responsible for these violations.
In a related development, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore last year sought to close a prolonged corruption case involving former Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mujahid Kamran and several others.
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After an extensive review, NAB cited insufficient evidence and filed a petition to dismiss charges against Dr. Kamran, Dr. Khan Ras, Deeba Akhtar, and Dr. Hassan Mubeen, among others.
Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, this case remains one of the most significant corruption allegations in the university’s history.
The revelations of financial mismanagement and fraudulent hiring practices have raised serious concerns about governance and accountability within Punjab University.
Authorities are now under pressure to implement stringent reforms to prevent future incidents and restore the institution’s integrity.
