RAWALPINDI: A team from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) visited Islamabad International Airport (IIA) on Tuesday to look into alleged irregularities and corruption in the installation of security and other IT equipment at the airport.

Sources said a three-member team led by NAB Deputy Director Sulman Akbar and experts from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication visited the airport at 2pm and inspected work done under Package IV, which included the baggage handling system and the installation of security equipment in the domestic and international lounges and apron area.

Sources said the NAB team spent about two hours inspecting different installations. A NAB Rawalpindi police constable accompanied the team.

The team also visited the data centre and inspected the security control room and the baggage handling system in the domestic and international lounges.

During the visit, Civil Aviation Authority officials also briefed the NAB team on the functioning of the baggage handling system and security equipment.

In 2017, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had asked NAB to investigate the ‘controversial’ award for a contract under Package IV at the airport, which was then under construction. The PAC had suspected corruption in the award and directed NAB to take legal action against those responsible.

Airport authorities have faced problems with the baggage handling system recently, which has stalled many times, inconveniencing passengers and airport staff.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2019