ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched inquiry into allotment of 118 kanal land of forest department by CDA to private company of a key political figure at Sangjani and disappearance of record of this land from respective office.
NAB, at initial stage has included former member environment of CDA Mian Wahid ud Din, Director General Environment Sheikh Suleman, Assistant Director Abdul Mannan and other officers in the investigation.
Sources said that government of Punjab is claiming since the last several years its ownership rights to the forest land lying in Magalla range This land was leased out to CDA and its lease period has expired now. However these officers of CDA gave undue benefit to company of a key political figure through wrong demarcation of this land and handed over the occupation of more than 118 kanal land of Forest department to this company which is already owning more than 3000 kanal land in Sangjani.
The files pertaining to record of this land has also been taken away and it is not available in the said office. NAB has started investigation into this scam and these officers are being summoned for recording their statements.
Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will initiate an inquiry into the procurement of elevators and escalators for the under-construction Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project.
The decision was taken after NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry received a written complaint accusing the chief engineer of the Rawalpindi Development Authority and other junior officers of manipulating the tendering process of procurement of elevators for the project, a NAB official said.
A copy of the same complaint has also been addressed to the Supreme Court’s chief justice requesting him to take action against the said officials.
It has been alleged that officials manipulated the tendering process and approved procurement of inferior quality elevators at exorbitant rates in violation of Pakistan Engineering Council’s defined criteria for pre-qualification of firms for procurement.
“The chairman has directed NAB Rawalpindi to expeditiously inquire into the matter and ensure that no national funds go to waste in the project,” said a statement issued by the NAB.
Escalators and elevators would be used to facilitate passengers to enter the raised platform of the metro buses. The Punjab Metro Bus Authority, the operator of the project, is directly responsible for the procurement process.
