Irregularities Exposed in Islamabad Commercial Plots Auction: Billions Lost
In a shocking development, an audit report has revealed severe irregularities in the auction of commercial plots by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad, leading to a massive loss of Rs. 37.82 billion to the national exchequer.
Audit Report Findings
The audit report highlights a lack of transparency in the auction process for 29 commercial plots offered by the CDA. Of these, 23 plots were sold for a total of Rs. 37.82 billion. However, the auction of five plots was postponed due to the non-receipt of bids, and another plot’s auction was halted due to legal issues.
Key findings from the audit report include:
- Lack of Backup Records: There was no backup record of plot prices and auction proceedings.
- Absence of Market Trend Analysis: No analysis was conducted to determine the market trend for land prices.
- Unverified Pay Orders: Pay orders from bidders were not deposited in banks, and no verification with banks was conducted, raising concerns about the possibility of fake pay orders.
These lapses in financial controls have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the auction process and have prompted calls for accountability.
Anti-Corruption Investigation
In a related development, the Anti-Corruption Circle completed its investigation into 14 government employees, revealing assets far exceeding their declared income. The investigation uncovered that several government officers and their families held significant undeclared assets, leading to charges under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Among the accused are:
- ETO Hilal Ahmed
- Former Member State CDA Afnan Alam
- Ahmar Ali Qureshi
- Parvez Akhtar
- Firast Ali
- Safdar Mahmood
- Kaleem Akhtar
- Mohammad Iftikhar
These individuals are alleged to have been involved in illegal activities, including selling government land, allocating numbers to non-custom vehicles, and violating development plans.
Calls for Accountability
The audit authorities have called for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible for the irregularities. The CDA has yet to respond to the allegations, but the findings have raised significant concerns about corruption and financial mismanagement within the organization.