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Thursday March 28, 2024

NAB initiates probe against ex-heads of PSM, NBP

By Asim Yasin
December 17, 2015

16 others also come under bureau’s scanner for causing loss of millions to national kitty

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has initiated an inquiry against 18 officials, including former heads of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), for causing loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.

The bureau launched an inquiry against a member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Sindh ex-minister for population on misappropriation of public funds of millions of rupees, encroachment and construction of shops on government property and accumulation of huge assets through illegal means.

The NAB Executive Board meeting was held on Wednesday under its chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry.The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) decided to file a corruption reference against former chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). In this case, the accused is alleged to have caused loss to the state through misuse of authority and a loss of Rs378.196 million to the national exchequer.

The NAB decided to authorise investigations against the National Bank of Pakistan’s former president, ex-group chief/SEVP and others who were alleged of misusing authority, misappropriation of government funds in purchase of core banking application for the NBP at higher rates and causing a loss of $19.3 million. 

The Executive Board authorised an inquiry against former member admin, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and others who were alleged of misusing authority through corruption and corrupt practices, illegal gratification against promotions and appointments and accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

The third inquiry was authorised against former vice chancellor (VC), University Education, Lahore, and others who were alleged of making illegal appointments in the University of Education, Lahore.

Another inquiry was authorised against officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), M/s Park Line Estate Company (Pvt) Ltd and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged of making illegal transfer of land of Punjab Forest Department by the CDA officials to Pak Line Estate Company (Pvt) Ltd.

The NAB Executive Board also authorised an inquiry against ex-general manager (admn), Karachi Port Trust, and others for misappropriation.

The sixth inquiry was authorised against former director distant education, Baha-ud-Din Zakariya University (BZU), and others who were alleged of making illegal appointment of staff, embezzlement of funds in purchase of books and accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

The seventh inquiry was authorised against the accused for suspicious transactions forwarded by Financial Monitoring Unit of the State Bank of Pakistan of Rs19.69 billion in the accounts.

The Executive Board also initiated an investigation against ex-vice chancellor (VC), University of Sindh, Jamshoro, and ex-registrar, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. In this case, the accused persons were alleged of misusing authority and embezzlement of university funds.

Another investigation was authorised against ex-chief executive officer/managing director (MD), PHA Foundation, ex-DG (CPM), PHA Foundation, ex-deputy director general (CPM) PHA Foundation, ex-deputy director (admn) PHA Foundation and ED, M/s Armaan.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged of corruption in renovation of Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, Islamabad.

The Executive Board decided to authorise two complaint verifications as the first complaint verification was authorised against officers/officials of the Agriculture University, Faisalabad, and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged of financial corruption in civil work, illegal appointments and selling of buildings material worth of millions of rupees with auction.

The second complaint verification was authorised against ex-MPA, Thatta. In this case, the accused person is alleged of corruption and corrupt practices and accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

The Executive Board approved the Voluntary Return (VR) request of ex-secretary Labour Department, Balochistan, SO (Budget), Labour and Manpower Department, Balochistan and CEO Toyota Zarghoon Motors amounting to Rs2,024,000.

The Executive Board also decided to close an inquiry against officers/officials of Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) and others, and Complaint Verification against ex-minister for women development due to lack of incriminating evidence.

While addressing the Executive Board, NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry reiterated the NAB’s firm resolve to eradication of corruption and corrupt practices by adopting holistic and proactive approach through enforcement besides awareness and prevention strategy.