Islamabad 13 August: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has ordered the Establishment Division and Interior Ministry to probe bureaucrats’ property purchases in Portugal and submit a detailed list of senior bureaucrats who have allegedly purchased properties.
Chaired by Junaid Akbar, the PAC directed the Establishment Division and the Ministry of Interior to compile and submit a comprehensive list of such officers, including the value, location, and source of funds for these properties. The move comes in response to Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s explosive allegations on August 6 that over half of the country’s top bureaucrats had acquired property in Portugal, allegedly with the intent of securing foreign citizenship.
Asif claimed these assets were bought with funds amassed through corrupt practices, enabling officials to retire abroad beyond the reach of Pakistani accountability laws. He also accused a senior bureaucrat linked to former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar of receiving Rs. 4 billion in “salami” (traditional wedding gift) during his daughters’ marriage ceremonies before quietly retiring.
During the PAC meeting, members stressed the urgency of transparency in public service and the need to plug loopholes that allow illicit capital flight. The committee warned that the scandal could erode public trust in state institutions if left unaddressed.
The session also addressed other governance concerns, including alleged irregularities in deploying Pakistani staff to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season and the recent closure of Utility Stores across the country. Members questioned whether the store shutdowns were depriving low-income citizens of affordable essentials, calling for their immediate reopening.
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The PAC’s directives signal heightened scrutiny of bureaucratic corruption, with a focus on foreign asset declarations and potential money laundering. Officials warned that failure to act decisively could fuel further economic instability and public disillusionment.
