CHITRAL: Local political activists and elders on Sunday urged the government to take notice of the corruption being committed in development projects, particularly in the Communication and Works (C&W) Department and other departments, or else they would launch a protest movement against the embezzlement of funds in Chitral.
Addressing a press conference at the Chitral Press Club, known trader Deen Muhammad Nadeem, Alhaj Eidul Hussain, Wajeehuddin, Muhammad Kausar Advocate, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas, Qazi Naseem, Maulana Javed Hussain and others said that rampant corruption was being committed in the funds meant for disasters management and other development projects.
Citing specific examples of anomalies, they alleged Rs. Rs. 1.7 million spent on Governor Cottage Road, Rs. 3 million on the restoration of Chew Bridge, Rs. 3.1 million on the repair of the Denin-Gahtek Road and Rs. 3 million on snow clearance over a two-kilometer stretch of the bypass road, which they claimed amounted to outright bogus billing.The activists and elders also alleged that at one end of Chitral’s historic Chew Bridge, a four-foot-deep pit had developed, and despite the work involving only the dumping of four truckloads of soil, the contractor was allegedly paid Rs. 3 million, which they described as completely illogical.
They also said that a thorough investigation was the need of the hour in all payments made under disaster funds in the Tehsil Municipal Administration of Chitral and Drosh and in all other projects. They also claimed that ghost and substandard projects were shown in the records for which overpayments were made with the collusion of government officials and contractors.
When contacted for his stance, Executive Engineer of C&W Division Lower Chitral, Wasim, said that every payment for development, infrastructure restoration, or repair works is made under a regulated and integrated system.He added that the matter pertained to a period before his tenure, and therefore he could only comment after reviewing the relevant files upon visiting Chitral.
