The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of less Developed Areas has directed the authorities concerned for inquiry into continuous power theft across country and malpractices at Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) seeking a detailed report. The meeting of the Senate Functional Committee held here on Monday discussed the implementation of recommendations made in its previous meeting regarding details of actions taken against corrupt QESCO officials contributing in power theft in Balochistan over the past five years. Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani highlighted that details provided by QESCO indicated that officers had terminated the services of individuals on absurd grounds of personal bias. Surprisingly, in one case, an SDO had terminated the service of an individual for not showing interest in drive against power theft but in another case only minor penalty was imposed on misconduct and corruption. Despite the removal of the so-called corrupt officers, power theft did not decrease at QESCO, he added. The Chairman of the Committee directed the Power Division to thoroughly examine the disciplinary actions taken by QESCO and submit a report within 30 days.

The Committee was briefed on the ongoing projects in less developed areas. MD NESPAK, Muhammad Zargham Eshaq Khan, informed that NESPAK is providing construction supervision services to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil and Works Department for 83 roads across 11 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including 7 districts of the previously known FATA. The length of these roads is around 872.65 km, with an estimated cost of Rs. 25.7 billion. The Committee directed NESPAK to provide complete details of the projects undertaken by NESPAK for reconstruction projects aimed at rehabilitation of IDPs. Additionally, the Committee took up the issue of alleged malpractices by a NESPAK consultant in the Park Road Housing Scheme of FGEHA. MD NESPAK informed that NESPAK had constituted a Fact-Finding Committee to probe the allegations; and as the next step, show-cause notices have been issued to three officers while four officers have been suspended until the completion of the inquiry. Senator Shahzaib Durrani questioned whether the Ministry of Housing had conducted any inquiry into the matter.

DG FGEHA apprised that the ministry had conducted an inquiry, and the Project Director was found guilty and subsequently terminated from service and also his case was sent to FIA. Senator Shahzaib Durrani stated that one person could not single-handedly orchestrate a plan involving a fraud of Rs. 1.4 billion, and there might be involvement from other officials. The Committee directed the Housing Ministry to submit the report of the in-house inquiry conducted by the ministry. Moreover, the committee expressed displeasure over the provision of an unsatisfactory briefing from SEPCO. The committee directed SEPCO and HESCO to provide a detailed briefing on the unannounced local shedding and theft in the area, along with a plan to control theft, at the next meeting. The meeting was attended by Senator Saifullah Abro, Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro, Senator Hamid Khan, Senator Aimal Wali Khan,Special Secretary for Power Division Arshad Majeed Mohmand, MD NESPAK Muhammad Zargham Eshaq Khan, CEO SEPCO Saaed Ahmad, CEO HESCO Raham Ali Otho and other senior officials of relevant departments.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan