PESHAWAR, July 12: The National Accountability Bureau has recovered Rs12 million, misappropriated by officials of the USAID-funded Fata livelihood development programme.

According to a press release, an inquiry into misappropriation of funds by the project officials was initiated on the complaint of the office of inspector general of USAID.

The inquiry was related to procurement of kits consisting of food and other items meant for flood affected people of Peshawar and Khyber Agency in August and September 2008.

According to the inquiry, the Academy of Educational Development produced the said kits from USAID funds. Huge misappropriation of funds was made in procurements by awarding contract at exorbitant rates through bid rigging.

After completion of inquiry, the procurer of AED and suppliers voluntary came forward and applied for return of illegal gain in term of section 25 (a) of NAO 1999.

The NAB accepted their application and the accused returned an amount of Rs12 million in the form of pay orders to its chairman.

“As the recovered money was supposed to be spent on people of this province and would be subsequently returned to USAID under the provision of National Accountability Ordinance, NAB plans to request the donor to divert this amount to the projects meant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in the areas of education and health,” the release said.