RDA blames ex-officers for Rs1.94b scam
The authority has formally referred the matter to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for action and recovery of losses.
According to an official statement issued by the RDA Director-General, Kinza Murtaza, serious irregularities have been identified in the financial records of the authority, causing substantial loss to the public exchequer.
The individuals allegedly involved include the retired Director of Admin and Finance, the late former DD of Finance, and the retired AD of Finance.
The DG emphasised that recovering the financial losses resulting from this corruption is imperative. She noted that legal recovery of the amounts due is possible within the framework of the law, including through attachment and confiscation of properties and assets.
Citing relevant legal provisions, she referenced section C-33 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 for recovery of embezzled funds, sections 12 and 15 of the NAB Ordinance for freezing and confiscating assets, section 50 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) for recovery of civil liabilities from the estate of a deceased person, and Order XXII Rule 4 of the CPC to initiate legal proceedings against legal heirs after the death of an accused.
Murtaza has formally written to the NAB Rawalpindi, FIA, and ACE Rawalpindi, urging swift recovery of the embezzled amount.
Talking to The Express Tribune, sources revealed that senior officials, who served as DGs or Directors of Admin and Finance in the RDA over the past nine years, and who held signatory authority over financial matters, might also face action from NAB, FIA, and the ACE for failing to ensure transparency.
Meanwhile, the official residence of the late DD Finance was sealed in Civil Lines in the nine-year-old mega corruption scandal in the Authority. Despite 236 suspicious transactions involving the RDA's National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) account, transfers were made to eight companies and 12 individuals and the RDA's financial discipline remained silent, the sources added.
It is still to be determined which officials received vehicles in exchange for an Rs110m payment made to a car showroom.
Separate payments of Rs175.7 million, Rs339.44m, Rs161.412m, Rs264.45m, Rs393.16m, and Rs74,25m were paid to several companies and individuals.
Meanwhile, a probe committee appointed by the RDA DG says it is not currently in a position to identify the primary culprit behind the fraud.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Crackdown on human traffickers, illegal currency networks launched
ISLAMABAD: In a series of coordinated operations across multiple regions, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested 10 suspects involved in human trafficking, visa fraud, and illegal currency exchange. The crackdown was carried out on the directives of FIA Director General Rafat Mukhtar Raja, as part of an intensified campaign to dismantle smuggling and financial crime networks operating across the country. FIA Multan Zone arrested three individuals, including Feroze Qaiser Sagu, a most-wanted human smuggler. Other arrested suspects include Muhammad Azam and Muhammad Wazir. The trio allegedly defrauded citizens by promising employment abroad, extracting large sums of money without delivering. Feroze Qaiser, apprehended in Khanewal, has nine cases registered against him in the Multan Zone and additional charges in Faisalabad. He reportedly scammed over Rs. 8.2 million from victims by offering fake job placements in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Muhammad Azam is accused of defrauding Rs. 600,000 under the pretence of employment in Azerbaijan. Muhammad Wazir allegedly extorted Rs. 2.36 million from citizens for promised jobs in the UAE. FIA Lahore Zone conducted raids in Lahore and Islamabad, arresting Naveed Tahir and Zubair Muhammad, both charged with visa fraud. Naveed Tahir allegedly took Rs. 1.68 million from a citizen, promising a job in Lithuania Zubair Muhammad is accused of swindling Rs. 700,000 under the guise of securing a US visa. Both suspects failed to provide the promised visas and had gone into hiding before being apprehended. In another significant operation, FIA Balochistan Zone arrested five individuals — Akmal Khan, Saifullah, Basheer Ahmed, Abdul Qayoom, and Abdullah — involved in illegal currency exchange and Hawala/Hundi operations in Quetta and Chaman Authorities seized a large sum of currency during the raids, including: Rs. 684,000 in Pakistani rupees 230.5 million Iranian Rials over 135,000 Afghanis 700 US dollars, 200 Saudi Riyals, and 150 Australian Dollars. Investigators also recovered cheque books, receipts, and bank slips linked to Hawala operations. The suspects were allegedly operating without proper licenses and failed to explain the source of the recovered funds. All suspects have been taken into custody and investigations are ongoing. According to the FIA spokesperson, the agency remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy against human trafficking, visa fraud, and illegal financial operations.
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Consumers pay bitter price for sweetener
In the digital age, there's no excuse for opacity as a transparent digital dashboard that tracks sugar from mills to wholesalers to retailers would make it harder for hoarders and profiteers to operate undetected. Photo: file Due to a lack of government attention, sugar prices have skyrocketed across the country, with an increase of up to Rs60 per kilogram at the retail level. Experts believe that the artificial sugar shortage is a direct result of inaccurate data and flawed decisions by federal institutions concerning sugar production and consumption. In the midst of this crisis, sugar profiteers have become active once again, manipulating prices in major markets across Lahore. The government's weak control has allowed profiteers to exploit the public, which is forced to buy sugar at inflated rates. In 2024, sugar was selling at Rs140 to Rs145 per kilo, but it is now being sold for Rs190 to Rs200 per kilo. The official DC rate remains at Rs145, but no retailer is selling at this price. Retailers argue that they themselves are getting sugar at higher prices. According to Sheikh Tanveer, the price of a 100kg sugar sack was Rs12,000 last year, but due to poor planning, it has now soared to Rs18,000 at the ex-mill rate. "Retailers make little profit, while the real beneficiaries are mill owners and sugar profiteers," said Tanveer. Even though the government claims to maintain complete records of sugar production and consumption, a crisis occurs every year. Citizens claim that due to poor government policies, they are forced to spend their hard-earned money buying sugar at inflated rates. This time, the price hike is not minimal, adding up to Rs40 per kilo. One citizen demanded that the Prime Minister take notice and act against those responsible. "But nothing ever happens in this country," he added. "Inflation robs us in broad daylight. It is the government's responsibility to control prices, yet no department seems to be doing anything," lamented the local. Sources have revealed that the same profiteers, who were previously targeted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) with full force, including arrests and record seizures, are once again operating in an organized manner, as they dominate future sugar pricing, especially in markets like Lahore's Akbari Mandi and Karachi's Jodia Bazaar. The FIA had previously launched a strong crackdown, but suddenly and without explanation, the operation was called off. It is unclear whether this was due to the influence of powerful profiteers or fear within the government, but sources claim officials made personal gains during the process. Till date, not a single sugar profiteer has been brought under the law. According to the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, the country produced 6.8 million tonnes of sugar during 20242025, which was 3 per cent more than the previous year. There was already a surplus of 7 million tonnes last year, prompting the government to allow exports. Despite sufficient availability, hoarders are now creating an artificial shortage once again, pushing sugar prices up to Rs200 per kilo. Currently, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) representatives have been deployed at sugar mills to prevent tax evasion. According to the FBR, this has improved tax recovery. Additionally, joint raids by the FBR and Intelligence Bureau are being conducted against hoarders across the country to stabilize prices. While there was no price hike during Ramadan, sugar prices have surged once again across the country. However, beyond targeting hoarders, no action has been taken against the profiteers responsible for driving up prices. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food is preparing to spend valuable foreign exchange on sugar imports. Tendering has already begun, though the next sugarcane crushing season is scheduled to start in November. In this entire scenario, billions of rupees are being drained from the pockets of the poor, while neither the government nor the bureaucracy seems affected.
Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Rawalpindi plans Leh revamp
esidents of Dhoke Chirag Din continue to dump garbage along Nullah Leh's banks in Rawalpindi, defying Section 144 imposed by the city administration. PHOTO: ONLINE Authorities have decided to widen the 16-kilometre-long Nullah Leh drain, install barbed fencing on both sides, and divide it into 16 sections to expedite rehabilitation work. The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has requested proposals from the Municipal Corporation to formulate a permanent flood prevention strategy. An important meeting on Nullah Leh was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed long-term solutions to the recurring flood problem. Participants included Additional Deputy Commissioners Abdullah Khan and Shehryar Shirazi, RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza, and officials from other concerned departments. Officials suggested assigning each segment to a separate construction company to ensure speedy work. Plans for fencing, construction, and an effective monitoring system were discussed to not only address the flooding issue but also beautify the surrounding areas. The meeting also reviewed the original 2003 Nullah Leh widening plan. Dr Cheema directed the RDA, WASA, Municipal Corporation, and other departments to finalise their recommendations promptly so the project can move into the execution phase. Encroachers warned On the other hand, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has intensified its crackdown on illegal encroachments in Islamabad, particularly structures built over natural stormwater drains (nullahs). They have issued warnings that such constructions pose severe flooding risks and will be demolished without exception. The announcement came during a high-level meeting held at the CDA Headquarters, chaired by Chairman CDA and Islamabad Chief Commissioner, Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Friday. According to the briefing, enforcement teams have already begun sealing and demolishing illegal structures built over nullahs, in accordance with directives from Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The campaign aims to reclaim government land from illegal occupants and prevent life-threatening scenarios during Islamabad's increasingly intense monsoon rains. "Buildings constructed over nullahs without a hydraulic study or CDA approval are not only illegal but highly dangerous. These structures could collapse during a major flood," said Chairman Randhawa, citing heavy rainfall this monsoon season-the highest since 2001-as a serious wake-up call. Residents and commercial property owners have been urged to voluntarily remove all encroachments from stormwater channels. "If not removed voluntarily, these structures will be sealed, declared hazardous and legal action will be initiated. The responsibility will lie entirely with the encroachers," Randhawa warned. In addition to enforcement, the CDA is implementing preventive measures to stop future encroachments. A permanent monitoring system will be established, utilising drone surveillance and Google Earth mapping to track reclaimed land. The authority also announced the digitisation of layout plans, the No Objection Certificate (NOC) process and fee payments for map approvals through a new cashless system. "We are digitising our One Window Facilitation Centre and computerising land records to enhance transparency and service delivery," said the Chairman, adding that these reforms will also help curb fraudulent construction practices and improve public access to services. The citywide anti-encroachment drive has been initiated following repeated flooding incidents in Islamabad's residential and commercial sectors. Experts have warned that unregulated construction over nullahs obstructs natural water flow, leading to urban flooding and potential loss of life. The CDA reiterated its commitment to carry out indiscriminate operations across all sectors of the city and urged citizens to cooperate in maintaining lawful development and environmental safety.
