Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing a meeting of the federal Apex Committee in Peshawar, highlighted three major alleged corruption cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Cities Improvement Project, the Rs37 billion Kohistan scandal, and alleged irregularities in the placer gold mining project.
All three scandals were first reported by Jang. In his opening remarks, the prime minister stated that if he were to present only a few examples from the 'mountains of corruption' in the province, they would reflect an alarming situation.
He specifically referred to alleged corruption worth billions in the Cities Improvement Project, the reported looting of Rs37 billion from the public through the Kohistan District Accounts Office, and the awarding of contracts to favored individuals in the gold mining project. Investigative reports on these scandals were conducted by journalist Arshad Aziz Malik.
The report on the Cities Improvement Project highlighted financial irregularities amounting to Rs8.4853 billion identified during an audit, which raised objections regarding illegal payments, funds released for incomplete work, and inflated contract costs. The project aims to improve water supply, sanitation, and urban facilities in five cities of the province.
Regarding the Kohistan Mega Scam, Arshad Aziz Malik's investigation revealed the alleged misappropriation of approximately Rs40 billion in public funds. The report disclosed that large sums were withdrawn from government accounts, with approximately Rs4.5 billion found in the bank account of a dumper driver.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) subsequently froze the funds. In the placer gold mining report, irregularities were highlighted in the auction of gold blocks along the Indus and Kabul rivers, questioning the reserve prices and contract awards.
Following these revelations, the provincial government ordered an inquiry into the auction process. The prime minister's reference to these cases underscores the urgent need for accountability and the protection of public resources.
The federal government has expressed its commitment to ensuring transparency in provincial governance. Officials noted that the scale of these financial discrepancies suggests a systemic failure in oversight mechanisms that requires immediate correction.
Political analysts in Peshawar suggest that the Prime Minister's public mention of these specific cases signals a shift in the federal government's approach toward the provincial administration. The focus remains on recovering the lost public exchequer funds.
As the investigations proceed, the public awaits further action from the relevant authorities to bring those responsible for these massive financial losses to justice, ensuring that such incidents are not repeated in the future.