RAWALPINDI: Cantonment boards have asked their employees from BPS-1 to BPS-16 to declare their assets and bank accounts till the last fiscal year (2018-19) by the end of this month. However, the directive is not applicable on senior officials.

Sources told Dawn the move was aimed at checking corruption.

They said if the assets of the employees were found beyond means, excessive assets would be confiscated.

The sources said the exemption of officers from this directive had created resentment among the low grade employees who say the government should equally apply rules on all employees.

They said senior officials who looked after projects worth millions of rupees were more vulnerable to corruption and should also be held accountable.

There are over 3,000 employees in Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and 2,000 in Chaklala Cantonment Board.

The sources said the low grade employees had completed their asset declaration forms and collected bank accounts statements.

On the other hand, RCB has reshuffled its building branch employees for fourth time in last two years but failed to control corruption.

It also launched an inquiry against all its building inspectors over illegal construction in cantonment areas and decided to check the assets of all the employees.

To avoid chances of corruption, the sources said, the cantonment boards had decided to check details of banks accounts every year. They said all property other than inherited ones would be checked.

When contacted, RCB spokesman Qaiser Mehmood said the assets declaration had been started in the cantonment board and all the employees were asked to submit their details as soon as possible.

He said the government would match the details of the assets and the bank details of the employees every year to stop corruption in the civic body.

He said family property did not come under scrutiny.

He said the RCB would also start working on digitalising the record of employees so it could easily be audited. He said the asset details of employees would be kept secret.

Replying to a question, he said senior officials came under the administrative control of Military Lands and Cantonments and they were answerable to the federal government.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2019