ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the NAB’s executive board approved on Wednesday three investigations one each against a former provincial minister of Balochistan, an ex-chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills, and some officials of the health department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A spokesman for the National Accountability Board (NAB) said investigations would be conducted against the former food minister of Balochistan, Asfand Yar Kakar, and in charge provincial reserve, Chaman centre, Haseen Khan Afridi, and Sameen Asghar, a former chairman of Steel Mills and one of PSM’s former commercial directors.

Mr Kakar and his associate are alleged to have embezzled Rs292.878 million by misappropriating over 100,000 wheat bags.

Mr Asghar in league with the ex-director is accused of misusing his authority and procuring iron ore at higher-than-prevailing market rates, causing a loss of Rs188.16m to the national exchequer.

NAB will conduct a probe into purchase of sub-standard life-saving medicines, medical equipment and furniture by officials of the KP’s health department, inflicting a loss of Rs11.42m to the exchequer. The equipment was purchased at exorbitant rates for the District Headquarters Hospital Upper Dir.

The board authorised complaint verification against Khalid Aslam, director general of Pakistan Coun-cil for Renewable Energy Technologies.

It also decided to close complaint verification against an ex-chairman of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Kohat, Khan Mohammad Khalil, because of lack of incriminating evidence.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2014