PROSECUTING corporate crimes in Pakistan is a tedious and time-consuming process, the benefit of which always goes to the culprits who enjoy life at the expense of the taxpayers. They do so by getting themselves transferred as ‘officers on special duty’ (OSD) to public-sector organisations while the wheels of justice grind at their measured slow pace.

I know of one instance where four such OSDs are serving in a state-owned organisation in which the government has 64 per cent holding. Each officer is doing nothing except drawing a large salary with all the relevant allowances, and enjoying unlimited medical facilities as well as other perks. One of these OSDs has been at the said organisation for almost two years which means he has earned millions for nothing while his case is yet to be decided.

The company’s board of directors had requested the government to withdraw these officers, but some of them went to court and obtained stay orders to remain in the organisation. And there rests the matter. It is an issue of concern that the resources of state-owned entities are being misused in this manner.

The management should consider suspending these OSDs as this measure can reduce the cost incurred on them. The government, on its part, should move with haste in terms of deciding their cases to save further burden on the exchequer.

Javed Siddiqui
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2020