MINGORA: Young activists from Shangla district have announced a formal campaign against alleged corruption and misappropriation of development funds, claiming that billions of rupees allocated annually for public welfare projects fail to translate into visible progress on the ground.
Addressing a press conference here at the Swat Press Club on Saturday, leaders of the Shangla Youth Wing, including Fazal Mabood Khan, Rehmatullah, Yousaf Shah, Mehm Shah, Nadeem Bacha, Ameer Suhail, Hilal, and Hayat Shah, said their movement was aimed at securing basic rights for citizens, ending lawlessness, and ensuring accountability.
The speakers alleged that despite repeated allocations of substantial development funds, most projects remain confined to paperwork, with little or no physical implementation. They accused political figures and a “contractor mafia” of colluding to siphon off public money, while accountability institutions, including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Anti-Corruption Department, have allegedly remained silent.
“Shangla continues to suffer from a lack of basic facilities,” said one of the youth leaders, pointing out severe deficiencies in education and healthcare infrastructure. They added that residents are often forced to travel to Swat for medical treatment and educational needs.
Highlighting the socio-economic challenges, the speakers claimed that nearly 60 percent of the district’s youth migrate to other areas in search of employment, while many others are compelled to work in hazardous coal mines. They further alleged that accidents in these mines have resulted in approximately 7,000 deaths and over 8,000 injuries, yet affected families have not received adequate compensation or relief packages.
The leaders also claimed that several development projects, including road construction and water supply schemes, are declared complete on paper but have no actual existence on the ground. They alleged that corruption is facilitated through collusion between designated focal persons and contractors assigned to these projects.
Referring to allegations circulating on social media, they said officials of the Regional Development Department (RDD), including assistant directors, sub-divisional officers, and engineers, have been accused of serious irregularities. However, instead of disciplinary action, they were merely transferred.
