newspapers/periodicals. An amount of Rs5.875 billion was released to so-called pre-qualified advertising agencies from 2013 to 2015 for awareness campaigns in electronic media.
NAB EBM has further said that Sharjeel Inam Memon approved pre-qualification of advertisement agencies in violation of SPPRA and also approved releasing of official advertisement. So far two agencies namely M/s Xnine Communication and M/s Value Added Marketing Services (VAMS) were inquired. Both the companies were issued release orders at exorbitant rates without calling quotations and without confirming market rates. M/s VAMS has opted for VR for an amount of Rs71.292 million (50 percent of the total liability). The remaining amount will be recovered from the accused officials. M/s Xnine has also showed willingness to return the embezzled amount through VR but the settlement is still to be finalized.
Liability against one of the accused persons namely Abdul Qadir Shah is calculated at Rs74.4 million, which he voluntarily came forward and offered to return the amount in three installments. Accordingly his voluntary return request has been recommended for acceptance by Karachi NAB DG, NAB’s inquiry states.
Besides Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, the other accused are Zulfiqar Ali Shalwani, ex-secretary Information and Archives Department; Mansoor Ahmed Rajput, Dy Director, Ms Anita, Dy Director; Makhdoom Amir Hashmi, Director/Chief Executive Officer, M/s Xnine Communication (Pvt) Ltd; Fawad Alam, Director M/s Value Added Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd and Abdul Qadir Shah.
Well-placed sources disclosed to ‘The News’ that Shalwani was removed after reports of misuse of advertising budget and Nazir Jamali was posted as Secretary Information Sindh. Sources said that Nazir Jamali started cooperating with NAB by providing the official documents to the bureau. A few days back, Jamali too has been removed and now Zahid Memon has been posted as new Secretary Information.