KARACHI - The National Accountability Bureau Sindh has recovered 23,000 acres of land worth Rs1.4 trillion from land grabbers.
This was stated by NAB Sindh Director General LT. Col (R) Sirajul Naeem while addressing a seminar – ‘Transparency in Construction Industry’- organised by Association of Builders and Developers, Pakistan at ABAD House. Sirajul Naeem said that construction industry is playing an important role in development of the country. He further said, “We are committed to resolve all issues of construction industry. Elimination of corruption will enable construction industry reduce its cost of construction up to 30 per cent and common man shall be the beneficiary.”
The DG said that after the open auction the third party interest shall be abolished and up to 80 per cent problem of the construction industry shall be resolved. He further said that all the pending cases from 2001 to 2014 have been resolved.
“We have received more than three times complaints as compared to last year and 70 cases of corruptions have been received in so far in 2015.” Karachi Water and Sewerage Board MD Misbahuddin Fareed while addressing the seminar said the new water connection policy is being prepared and shall be implemented within next 15 days. ABAD Chairman M Hanif Gauhar, “During last 25 years, we provided hundreds of residential projects but the government did not support construction industry. The ABAD always participated in rescue efforts in all disasters.”
Hence to provide residence to public is the sole responsibility of the government, but instead the ABAD is solely making it possible to provide accommodation to the common people. “But it is regretted that instead of getting appreciation from the government, the utility institutions are not cooperating with us.”
The ban is imposed on water and gas connections, and several projects are being sealed by the SBCA. The government institutions are established for public welfare but they do not fulfill their responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court granted an interim pre-arrest bail to accused Munir Ahmed facing charges of committing embezzlement of Rs90 million in housing scheme for government servants.
The SHC bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, was hearing the petition filed by Ahmed seeking pre-arrest bail as National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is investigating against him. The petitioner stated that he was serving as senior primary school teacher in Sukkur but he was booked in a reference by the NAB along with other accused.
According to reference pending before an accountability court, additional account officer of Sukkur, Naik Muhammad along with the petitioner and others was involved in preparing fraud sanction letters of finance department and passing fake bills of house purchase on government servants. The petitioner submitted that prime suspect Naik Muhammad had also been granted a bail, so he could be arrested in respect to the reference.
Ahmed requested the court to grant him a bail as he is innocent. The court approved his interim pre-arrest bail plea against the surety bonds of Rs50,000 and directed him to cooperate investigators in the reference. It also issued notice to the Deputy Attorney General to file the comments on December 15.