ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik told the National Assembly on Monday that there reportedly was embezzlement of over Rs36 million in Haj arrangements this year.

He said several accused, including former Haj director-general Rao Shakeel, had been arrested and investigations were going on, details of which would be provided to parliament soon.

He stressed the need for improving Haj policy for which the ministry of interior would point out grey areas. There was a need to keep check on agents, he added.

Mr Malik said his ministry had launched an anti-corruption campaign and sacked several officers for their alleged involvement in wrongdoing, adding that the ministry would keep on informing parliament about its progress. Terming the Transparency International's survey substandard, the minister said its recent report which had ranked Pakistan 34th on the corruption index was not based on facts.

He claimed that 34.5 per cent of information was taken from a single channel out of which 98 per cent was based on lies.

He said reports should not be made on gossips, adding that “investors have run away as they consider us corrupt”.—APP