DERA GHAZI KHAN-A sum of over Rs5 million was embezzled in the construction of Border Military Police (BMP) station in Kharar Buzdar by the Building Department, it is learnt.
Border Military Police (BMP) Dera Ghazi Khan Commandant Babar Bashir pointed out in an official letter that the building of the police station is one year old but cracks have started appearing in its walls, roofs and floor of many rooms. He said that Political Assistant (PA) Office has not taken the control of the building so that the defects of building can be removed. So the department should remove the defects from the building, he demanded.
SHO BMP Kharar Buzdar Naseem Khan Buzdar said that Police Station is situated on the border of Tribal area over the side of tehsil Rakni District Barkhan, Balochistan. It’s a serious security hazardous area. He alleged that contractor made compromise over quality of material for construction of building.
When contacted, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Building of Project Iftikhar Hussain admitted that some defects exist in the project which would be removed by contractor.
When approached, Sub Engineer of project Sajjad Khan said that earthquake has caused cracks in the building. He also claimed that contractor would repair it. An officer of BMP with request to anonymity said that contractor Ashiq Hussain and SDO Iftikhar Hussain were neighbour in Muzaffargarh city. They looted millions of rupees and caused a loss of more than Rs5 million to the national exchequer. He said that corruption has become cancer of Provincial Building Department. A crime in the shape of kickbacks in every project has become norm of the department. All the officials from junior clerk to up to Superintendent Engineer including staff of district account office were involved in corruption, he said.
He requested to accountability institutions to inquire malpractice in the project and curb corruption that was deep-rooted in the Building Department.