KARACHI: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) issued a letter on Wednesday to the heads of several associations of trade and industry, warning them to beware of elements involved in malpractices in the name of the department, including its own officials, and report against them.

“It has been brought to the notice of this agency that some officials of Sepa as well as some unknown people are engaged in extortion/grabbing money or other malpractices in the name of organisation.

“It is, therefore, suggested that information be widely circulated amongst members of your association not to entertain such officials/persons and immediately communicate to Director General or other relevant officers of this organisation in order to eradicate corruption/malpractices,” the letter by Sepa director general says.

The department, through this letter, also assured heads of associations of confidentiality and states that “name and information of the complainant will be secured”.

Sources said while complaints of malpractices against Sepa officials had been rampant for a long time, it’s perhaps the first time that it was officially admitted that corruption prevailed within the department.

“It all happened in the backdrop of a recent suspension of a Sepa official against whom a complaint was earlier lodged by a pharmaceutical company to the chief secretary, who later took up the matter up with relevant officials,” said a Sepa official on the condition of anonymity.

Malpractices, like other government departments, were common at Sepa and officers had often been transferred to another district on such complaints, he added.

Sources said since the recent complaint was taken up by a top government official, the letter seemed to be an effort to show that the “department actively pursued complaints of corruption”.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2020