ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court is taking up a case regarding alleged corruption and irregularities in the affairs of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD) today (Friday).

In addition to the SC, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also received complaints from PIFD employees against the institute’s vice chancellor, following nationwide demonstrations.

The PIFD is a public sector degree awarding institute that specialises in design education.

It offers a four year course of study, leading to a bachelors degree.

The PIFD was registered under the Companies Ordinance in 2008, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Commerce.

A no-objection certificate (NOC) was issued to the institute by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for degree awarding status in 2007.

The petition and complaint lodged with the SC and NAB, respectively, claim that incompetent favoured individuals had been inducted into the institution so that the PIFD management to implement its own flawed decisions.

In addition, retired government officials have been inducted into the PIFD, against SC orders.

The complainants have said a number of colleges affiliated with PIFD have been closed, and millions of rupees in procurements have been made in the name of these colleges without meeting the requirements of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules.

They also alleged that corruption and irregularities have been committed in the hiring of a private security firm and the construction of a room in PIFD headquarters.

The petitioners have said a firm owned by a relative of Vice Chancellor Hina Tayyaba Khalil was hired, while other eligible companies were ignored.

They told the SC and NAB that household items were obtained from the PIFD store on fake signatures, and then sent to the homes of top institute officials.

Despite having its own land, the institute’s hostels have also been opened at high rents in rented buildings.

The complainants have asked the SC and NAB to check the money trail of top institute officials, including the vice chancellor, alleging that they may have accumulated wealth beyond their known sources of income.

They also said merit had been violated in the appointment of favoured individuals, who had also been rewarded with foreign tours at the expense of public funds.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2018