SAHIWAL: Development funds worth Rs200 million, allocated under the “Provision of Sewerage and Drainage” programme for NA-142 (Sahiwal-II), are reportedly being diverted to construct village roads and streets instead, raising concerns about political favouritism and ‘misuse’ of public funds.

The 16 schemes, originally sanctioned for sewerage and drainage infrastructure, are now being used primarily for street soling and pavement across several villages in the constituency. These schemes were awarded after Chaudhry Usman Ali, who won the 2024 election as a PTI-backed independent candidate, joined the PML-N following the disqualification of his uncle, Chaudhry Asif.

Despite the official titles, most of the development being carried out has no link to sewage or drainage systems. According to residents, no underground sewerage infrastructure is being developed in the affected areas. Instead, basic soling work is being done in villages including UC-7 (58/GD), UC-21 (79/5-L), UC-22 (96/9-L and 86/9-L), UC-26 (109/9-L), UC-27 (116/9-L), UC-28 (107/9-L, 131/9-L), UC-30 (129/9-L), and UC-44 (Mirdad Madfi and 64/GD), among others.

Among the 16 schemes, the most expensive is in UC-34, valued at Rs18m, while the least costly is in UC-26, at Rs7m. The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department is the designated implementing and monitoring agency.

PHE official says soling ‘linked to sewerage work’

When contacted, PHE Executive Engineer Abid Fareed confirmed that the scheme titles remained unchanged on paper, but acknowledged that the on-ground work primarily involved soling and pavement. Asked why a department mandated for sanitation was executing road works, he stated that the soling was “linked to sewerage work.”

Usman Ali confirmed receiving of development funds and execution of schemes in 20 villages but declined to explain why scheme purposes and nomenclatures were altered on ground.

A source close to the situation told Dawn requesting anonymity that contractors cannot use funds for other purposes which are approved in final tenders. On repeated requests, he did not reply to any SMS.

This situation raises contradictions in Punjab’s “Suthra Punjab” initiative, which aims to improve rural civic services. Critics point out that while the government speaks of transparency and merit, its own allies are reportedly diverting funds to fulfill political agendas and not improving civic facilities in villages.

Questions have also been raised about the posting of the current PHE EXEN, a grade-17 officer working as SDO in Chichawatni, transferred from there to his hometown against a scale-18 sanctioned XEN post — reportedly to enable smooth execution of the MNA’s desired projects. Observers allege the appointment was politically motivated, further undermining claims of fair governance.

Former PTI MNA from Chichawatni, Rai Hasan Nawaz, told this correspondent that no other PTI lawmaker in Punjab had been granted any development funds. Last year, localPTI starlets and his uncle during a press conference had announced that Usman had nothing to do with PTI politics anymore.Usman was also among the MNAs who supported the 26th amendment bill introduced by the PML-N-led coalition government.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2025