Islamabad, Aug 19: The Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) Park Road Housing Scheme consultant, NESPAK, is accused of malpractice. The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas has ordered an investigation into widespread power theft throughout Pakistan.
The conference was centered on the ongoing issue of electricity theft and the purported corruption in the housing project, with Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani serving as chair.In particular, the Committee examined the steps taken against dishonest Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) officials over the preceding five years, including reviewing the implementation of recommendations from earlier meetings.
Senator Shahzaib Durrani criticized QESCO for its disciplinary measures, pointing up inconsistencies in the reasons given for terminating some employees. He pointed out that some people were fired for not being engaged enough in anti-theft campaigns, while others who engaged in more serious wrongdoing and corruption were just fined.
Even after these officials were removed for alleged corruption, electricity theft continues within QESCO’s jurisdiction. As a result, the Chairman directed the Power Division 30 days to do a comprehensive investigation of QESCO’s disciplinary proceedings and provide a comprehensive report. Updates on ongoing projects in less developed areas were also provided to the Committee.
The Committee was briefed by Muhammad Zargham Eshaq Khan, Managing Director of NESPAK, on NESPAK’s oversight of the construction of 83 roads spanning 11 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. encompassing seven districts from the previous FATA area.
These highways have a combined length of about 872.65 km and are expected to cost Rs. 25.7 billion. The Committee directed NESPAK to submit thorough information about programs pertaining to internally displaced people’s (IDPs) rehabilitation.
A NESPAK consultant’s alleged wrongdoing in the Park Road Housing Scheme of the FGEHA was also discussed during the conference. Following the revelation by MD NESPAK that a Fact-Finding Committee had been established to look into the claims, three officers were given show-cause notices and four others were placed on administrative leave until the investigation was concluded.Senator Shahzaib Durrani questioned if an impartial investigation had been carried out by the Ministry of Housing.
The Committee was notified by the FGEHA Director General that the Project Director who was determined to have committed the fraud had been fired as a result of an internal probe. Since then, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked with handling the matter.
Senator Shahzaib Durrani voiced worry that a single person may be responsible for a Rs. 1.4 billion scam, implying that other officials could be involved as well. The Ministry of Housing was instructed by the Committee to provide the whole report of its internal investigation.
The Committee directed SEPCO and HESCO to submit comprehensive reports on unexpected load shedding and power theft in their respective regions after expressing unhappiness with the briefing given by Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO), during the following meeting, along with a thorough strategy to deal with these concerns.
