BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman has suspended Bahawalpur Zone irrigation chief engineer Khalid Bashir Gujjar, a BS-20 officer, from service under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accounta-bility (Peeda) Act, 2006.

Dawn has learnt that Mr Gujjar was suspended for his alleged involvement in corruption.

Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Lahore police station had registered a corruption case against the chief engineer in May last and arrested him in the first week of the current month.

According to a notification SOEI.1-23/2022(P) issued with the approval of the chief secretary, Khalid Bashir Gujjar was placed under suspension with immediate effect under Section 6 of Peeda Act 2006.

The notification further said Sahiwal Zone Chief Engineer Rashid Minhas (BS-19) was entrusted with additional charge of the Bahawalpur Zone in addition to his own duties for a period of three months or till the arrival of a regular incumbent, which may be earlier.

Gujjar’s suspension is also liable to the department’s disciplinary action, in addition to legal action by the ACE.

In the corruption case registered earlier against him, the ACE alleged that Gujjar received kickbacks of millions of rupees in the irrigation department’s projects.

The ACE had also arrested an executive engineer (EXEN) of the irrigation department, along with Mr Gujjar.

BISP FUNDS: The federal government has released the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) (Kifalat programme) first quarterly (2023-24) subsistence allowance installment of Rs9,000 per family for the total 2.2 million deserving registered women across south Punjab.

This was stated by BISP South Punjab Zone Director Sheikh Muhammad Amin on Monday.

According to the director, the quarterly installment, to be distributed through total 2000 registered BISP distribution centres in south Punjab.

He said transparency would be ensured in the funds distribution and asked the registered recipients to collect full amount, along with its receipt, from the distribution centre without any deduction. In case of any complaint, they may contact BISP on telephone No 061-6214200.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2023