PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has initiated formal inquiries into alleged corruption, financial irregularities and violations of rules in two foreign-funded mega projects of the province.
According to sources, several substantiated complaints of alleged financial irregularities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project (KP RAP) had been received.
NAB sources said that based on preliminary investigations and credible evidence, separate inquiries have now been initiated in both projects. The complaints have pointed out collusion between contractors and some government officials, serious violations of rules and non-transparent use of funds.
According to media reports, the urban development project “KP Cities Improvement Project” worth about Rs 97 billion was launched to develop basic local government infrastructure such as provision of clean drinking water, improvement of sewage system, solid waste management and urban transport in various cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The “Rural Accessibility Project” aims to improve roads and basic access infrastructure in rural areas.
According to NAB, both projects have been issued with a combination of loans from international financial institutions and government funding, while ensuring transparency in them is of utmost importance. Sources say that after verification of available evidence and complaints, both cases have been taken to the inquiry stage.
On the other hand, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has welcomed the NAB inquiries and said that the government fully believes in transparency and accountability. A senior government official stated, “If any individual is found to be involved in corruption or irregularities in these projects, action will be taken according to the law.”
Experts say that such investigations into foreign-funded projects are not only essential for transparency but are also directly related to international trust and future funding. Earlier to this, several persons were arrested in the Kohistan Mega corruption scandal, and billions of rupees were recovered from their possession.
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